THINK ON THESE THINGS!

Why is thinking so difficult? Bet you weren't expecting that kind of question! It is a viable question, worthy of consideration (This requires thinking too :-)

THINKING REQUIRES:

ENERGY - This translates into effort. Anything worth obtaining is worthy of mental and physical efforts!

TIME - Perhaps one of our most valuable and precious commodity we own! As long as we have breath and mental faculties, we can tap into this resource, until we depart this earthly place. Use your TIME wisely, Eph 5:16-17.

DESIRE- Oh yes, the infamous desire, the willingness to want to spend the ENERGY and TIME to achieve a higher plateau of knowledge!

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:." (Prov 23:7a)

The Hebrew word for "thinketh" is sha`ar which means: to split open, reason out, calculate, reckon, estimate.

Much study is weariness to the flesh (Eccl 12:12) But studying produces such wonderful fruits of knowledge! Then, as needed, we can put on our "thinking caps" and sort through this well spring of knowledge so that we might be able to reason out, calculate, reckon, estimate the proper deed, word, and attitude!

The knowledge we digest enters through our synoptic nerve endings into our brain, thus determining the kind of person we are. Knowledge is then released through our thinking. Every deed requires someone's thinking.

Notice what Jesus said about evil men. (Matt 7: 23, 21-22)

"All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts - adulteries - fornications - murders -Thefts - covetousness - wickedness - deceit - lasciviousness - an evil eye - blasphemy - pride - foolishness:" Take notice...the first thing listed is evil THOUGHTS!

This shows us we must be careful what we allow to enter into our mind, for our thoughts will reveal itself in some way.

When was the last time you heard the phrase "Think before you act"? It is just as true today as when you heard it the first time. But our thinking process can be come confused, muddled, incoherent, and misdirected. Why? Because the cache of knowledge we retrieve from may be lacking or the wrong kind, as was illustrated by Jesus and the evil man.

God truly wants us to live peaceful lives, without all the dysfunctions and turmoil in the lives of worldly thinking people. Brother Paul encourages us by guiding our thought processes. Instead of thinking the "normal" way we see a man interacting today, God directs our thinking in such a manner as to uplift the spirit, and strengthen the soul! To prepare for us place of paradise in the heavenly realm!

"Finally, brethren,
* whatsoever things are true,
* whatsoever things are honest,
* whatsoever things are just,
* whatsoever things are pure,
* whatsoever things are lovely,
* whatsoever things are of good report;
* if there be any virtue, and
* if there be any praise,
THINK ON THESE THINGS." (Phil 4:8)

Greek word for think is and is defined as:

1) to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
2) to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate
3) by reckoning up all the reasons, to gather or infer

Thinking transforms our mind, Rom 12:1-2

Thinking puts off the old man, Col 3:8-9

Thinking puts on the new man, Col 3:10, 12, 14

Thinking chooses between God and mammon, Matt 6:24

Thinking seeks those things above, Col 3:1

Life pivots upon the thinking of men! The deeds done reflect the inner self. We must guard our hearts. Remember and think of the advice Jesus gave His disciples: Mat 10:16b " be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

By Jack Wise

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