What Do You Think?
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Prone to Wander
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A Work in Progress
Prone to Wander
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."
When Jesus walked this earth, He blew the cover off the religious elite of the day: the Pharisees who smugly thought that if they did not commit certain sins, they were okay. But somehow, they had rationalized that they could do these things in their minds and it was not sinful. Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28). They didn't like that a whole lot.
What was Jesus pointing out to these men, and to us as well? He was emphasizing again and again the importance of our minds, our hearts, and our attitudes. That's because sin is not merely a matter of actions and deeds. It is something within the heart and the mind that leads to the action.
Sin deceives you into thinking that because you have not committed the act, you're okay. In reality, if you keep thinking about it, it may be only a matter of time until that thought becomes an action. Even if it doesn't, that thought is still spiritually destructive. So you need to go out of your way as a Christian to protect your mind and your thoughts. Satan recognizes the value of first getting a foothold in the realm of your thoughts and imaginations, because he knows this will prepare the way for that thought to eventually become an action.
As it has been said, "Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." It all starts with a thought.
What was Jesus pointing out to these men, and to us as well? He was emphasizing again and again the importance of our minds, our hearts, and our attitudes. That's because sin is not merely a matter of actions and deeds. It is something within the heart and the mind that leads to the action.
Sin deceives you into thinking that because you have not committed the act, you're okay. In reality, if you keep thinking about it, it may be only a matter of time until that thought becomes an action. Even if it doesn't, that thought is still spiritually destructive. So you need to go out of your way as a Christian to protect your mind and your thoughts. Satan recognizes the value of first getting a foothold in the realm of your thoughts and imaginations, because he knows this will prepare the way for that thought to eventually become an action.
As it has been said, "Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." It all starts with a thought.
TODAY'S RADIO PROGRAM: "Secrets to Spiritual Success Pt. 5 — II"
BIBLE READING: Luke 6
Copyright © 2008 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced
in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas
Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
A Work in Progress
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