Wordsurfers
  • Home
    • About
  • Sermons
    • The Beatitudes
    • Parables
    • Fruits of the Spirit
    • The Seven Churches in Revelation
    • Living in Christ
    • The Gospel according to John
    • Daniel
    • Other Sermons
  • Publications
  • Thoughts
  • Key Readings
  • Prayers
  • "Quotes"
  • Gallery
  • Video

Thoughtlife

12/10/2017

 
Picture
There’s no doubt Jesus set the bar very high when it comes to our behaviour.  In his famous Sermon on the Mount He said unless our righteousness exceeds that of the super-religious Pharisees we would never enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Matthew 5 v 20) He continues that we may be judged not just for outward words and actions but attitudes of heart such as lust or the sort of anger that devalues or desires harm to others.  (v 21-30)
To a modern reader, used to advertising and entertainment industries designed and geared to encourage hedonistic self-indulgence it sounds impossible.  ‘No pressure there!’ we might feel like saying.
But I kind of see what He means.
There’s an Old Testament reference which says, ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.’  (Proverbs 4 v 23)  What we choose to welcome to our minds and dwell on can quickly become dominant and issue in actual words and actions!  Our conversation or social interaction will often reflect the examples we’ve seen on TV or the net.  People wear their hair, or curse and swear, or do sex and violence just like the idols they worship.
So maybe the Lord is wise after all in urging some self-discipline in our thinking! 
Ultimately His sermon illustrates the uncomfortable truth, ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’  (Romans 3 v23)  All of us need to trust in Him as Saviour.
But how then can we deal with the unworthy thoughts and desires that still slip so easily into our conscious?  The answer is to replace them quickly with more positive, reverent, honourable ones!
It comes down to what we allow to ‘dwell’ in us, what we invite in to make itself at home.  It’s an old but excellent illustration that says we can’t stop the birds flying over or even landing on our head but we can prevent them nesting in our hair!  Listen to what the Apostle Paul urges in Colossians 3 v 15-16:
‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.’
If our hearts are filled with Christ’s peace, His word and wisdom, His Spirit and gratitude as a result, there will be little room left for less worthy items.


Comments are closed.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.