A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Thinkers?"
The television talk show dealt with the debate between evolution and
creationism. During the debate one of the scientists said that Christians
were unable to debate or to discuss the issue "intellectually." This gentleman
is gravely mistaken! Contrary to popular belief, Christianity is not a
mindless religion. Christianity has always encouraged education for the
discovery of truth. Modern scientific study grew out of theology. The key
word here is Truth! Truth is never antithetical to God. Christians are
to have minds that are alert, alive, active - thinking minds. God invites
us to "come and reason together." Christians' minds are to be "steadfast
upon God" (Isaiah 23:6), which requires Holy Spirit empowered concentration.
The powers of evil want to divert our concentration. Busying our minds
with less important and the trivial keeps us from concentrating on the
things of God - on Truth. Unfortunately, the world is doing an excellent
job of cluttering our minds with the trivial and temporal making us sluggish
regarding the things of God.
Scripture admonishes: "Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think on such things." (Philippians
4:8). This is an imperative, not a suggestion. It is emphatic, and clear.
It is a clarion call to Christians - "Think on such things!" The word used
for "think" in the original language of the New Testament denotes intense
concentration - deep meditation. We must do the mental work to concentrate
on the things of God, at all times, in all things. The things that are
true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy
are never counter to the things that we will involve ourselves today, this
week, or any time. If there is something that we are doing that is in conflict
with these holy things, then we should cease doing it. Truth always directs
our attention to God and glorifies Him. If it does not, it is not truth.
God's perfect peace is granted to anyone whose "mind is steadfast on
Him," (Isaiah 26:3) whose mind is thinking, concentrating on whatever is
true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is admirable - the excellent or praiseworthy. Beloved,
let us be holy thinkers, by thinking on these things!
Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry
A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed
by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene.
These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety
without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome.
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