Think!

The news along with other observations of human behavior seem to reveal that the practice of thinking is being abandoned. Much of what is called ‘news’ contains speculation rather than facts. Pundits debate the future in sports, politics, and other areas. Not only that, logic is often missing. How many times does someone say, “What were they thinking?” A rhetorical question for the obvious — “Nothing!” 

AI is tempting. No one has to think when technology will do it for them. Cause and effect are less of an issue with a population that continually blames others for the results of their own bad choices. We say “You make me angry” to others, relinquishing our ability to control our own emotions. Logic is replaced by opinion and thinking through many issues is given to search engines or not bothered with at all.

Today, Piper points to a NT challenge: 

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. (2 Timothy 2:7)

Yesterday I was thinking how hard it is to listen to the Lord when I am praying. I know He knows my thoughts, and His will is often in my heart. The Bible does say: “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

But then there is that old mind, the way of thinking that comes from the flesh, the selfish and sinful old nature that Jesus replaced. He is at work to renew my mind so that I understand His will:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

This does not say I will be able to understand all things (like medical terms, engineering, the game of Cricket, or if crabs have eyebrows) but He will let me in on His will. This comes with grace yet requires something from me:

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17–24)

Putting off the old self requires the ability to recognize the old self. It requires humility and thinking, not assuming all I do is fine with God. I need to feed the new nature by reading God’s will in His Word, not only to grow but also to survive the battle against those sins that keep me thinking only about myself and what I want… 

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:1–3)

The Bible says that knowledge puffs up. Jesus told of the prideful Pharisee who considered himself better than the humble publican, but was not thinking biblically. That kind of thinking is summed up even in the OT:

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:18–20)

PRAY: This is a big topic for those who don’t think deeply, or don’t reason together with God. It is a challenge to grasp the reality of redemption for sinners by grace through faith yet You have given us a great gift — a new mind, Your mind. Being willing to use it, and being obedient to what You say, is the challenge when You tell me to think and to rely on Your understanding. I have a book called, “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci” yet You tell me I can think with Your mind. Jesus, increase my ability to think as You think. Oh my, what a wonder that this is even possible!

Good In, Good Out?

 

An app gives me access to library e-books. I started to read one but it began with descriptions of horrible attacks and murders. Within three chapters, I returned it without reading the rest. I’m not sure my mind is like a computer, but I’m not willing to risk that “Garbage In, Garbage Out” maxim.

Aside from the book, we went for an early breakfast because we check-out today. Normally I don’t eat early but we will be a long time in the air. Anyway, on the way for a small bite to eat, we talked to a very friendly young hotel liaison person about how to grow old in a good way. I told him that the main thing we focused on was listening to God and doing what He says. He received that well. Had I read any of that book, thoughts like that may not have entered my head.

Being like Jesus is a daily challenge. Jesus would not have read explicit books, nor would He focus on exercise, health food, or any of the other usual recommendations for a long life. He may have quoted the OT commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12) yet I doubt it. He knew that a long life is not guaranteed by what we do. He may also have quoted Psalm 90 that includes the words: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Why listen to Jesus? Some say He was merely a Jewish teacher. Others say He was an idea, like a myth. However, the Bible and His own words declare a most marvelous truth:

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3)
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14:10)
I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. (John 12:45)

Jesus is not a mere teacher, a mere wise man with good advice. He is the Creator God, the Word made flesh who came here so we could know what God is like, but so we could also have a relationship with Him through faith, experience forgiveness of sin, and be certain of eternal life as the result.

For all of that and more, I want to do His will, not the will of the world, my old nature, or the devil. 1 John 3 begins with the statement that those who hope in Him purify themselves as He is pure. God’s goal for me is to be like Jesus. I cannot claim the same identity but because of His saving power, I can claim to know God and to advance in purity. Reading a crappy book does nothing toward those realities.

PRAY: Jesus, thanks for giving this book-lover the gumption to toss a book – even one that is part of a series that seems otherwise okay – to instead prefer to read about You and Your incredible goodness. You reveal the Father, holiness, purity and grace so I can occupy my mind with  “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” and if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, I can think about those things (Philippians 4:8) and share them with others.

Following Jesus means . . .

READ Matthew 9-12

Sometimes the idea of following Jesus means having His attitudes, thinking His thoughts. Sometimes it means doing what He did. Matthew seems to be an example.

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples . . . (Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:9–13)

Jesus called Matthew and it seems Matthew called his friends to be with Jesus. I can do that too.

There are some things Jesus did that I cannot do (unless by some miracle from the Lord). For instance, He restored to life the daughter of a ruler, healed a woman healed, gave sight to two blind men, set a demon-oppressed mute man free and restored his speech. But I can share Jesus compassion for the “harassed and helpless” crowds.

How I follow Jesus is up to Him. Just as He gave His disciples “authority over unclean spirits” and the ability “to heal every disease and every affliction” He must do the same for me. His directions are always specific:

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. (Matthew 10:5–8)

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. (Matthew 10:16–23)

Just because Jesus tells me what to do does not mean it will be easy. He warned His followers: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”

He also reminds us of our priorities: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34–39)

Jesus says I will know who is receptive to Him by how they respond to me: “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” Yet just as their generation was never satisfied, so is ours:

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ” (Matthew 11:16–19)

Following Jesus can be easy. He does the hard part: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” My job is trusting Him and pulling my share of the load. It might seem difficult but He says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:27–30)

Jesus, grant me wisdom to follow You in whatever way You lead, listening, thinking, talking, and acting in obedience!

 

A toxic relationship?

There is a person in my life who acts as a friend, but something is off. This person talks in contradictions, makes statements that are later denied, agrees with the need of the world for Jesus, then turns around and talks about the joy she gets from her off-base versions of God. She has lofty dreams that are not grounded in reality and talks of the sun in worship terms. If these and other examples were sole, they might be explained, but the pile up has become scary. She is unpredictable and does not listen to my concerns for her.

I confronted some of these issues as gently as I could. After a couple weeks of silence, I saw her yesterday at the grocery store. She talked as if she didn’t hear anything I’d said and is still in denial about her need for help. This morning, I asked the Lord what my attitude should be

Now Lord, what am I supposed to do? I’ve asked for Your input and this is the passage for today:

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God . . .  So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” (Deuteronomy 13:1–5)

In context of my life, this passage is startling. I know I’m not to listen to the prattling about ‘other gods’ but never realized this relationship could be a test of my love for Jesus. In my desire to walk with Him, He is warning me not to let this person drag me down. While I’ve not at all abandoned Jesus, I have felt depressed in my spirit. In the past two weeks of separation from her, my emotions and ability to hear and focus on the Lord have greatly improved.

The other startling thing is the judgment of God toward false teachers who try to lead His people astray. He wants them put to death! In the time of this passage, God’s law prevailed. Today, civil law says NO to a death sentence for false teachers, but God’s judgment has not changed. His people are to avoid and not listen to anyone who speaks lofty ideas that fail to honor Him.

I’d been thinking that this person is not good to be around and how her demands on my time have replaced far healthier relationships. While seeing positive change in her would be wonderful, so far all I have seen is a rise in me of distrust, negativity, and a desire to spend time with others who are transparent, honest, and not faking their emotions. I cannot literally put someone to death, but I can purge or remove them from my calendar.

^^^^^^^^^

Lord, this is difficult. I want to be a positive influence, not a victim of people who use me up. I’m thinking this is Your answer to my prayer, but You know how I want to be certain. The enemy could be stirring the pot because he doesn’t want my input into her life. If that is true, bless me with conviction and power. If not, show me what to say or do next. I’m trusting You.

Greek words and the mind of Christ

In the past four weeks, I’ve learned that Greek verb tenses are not about the time an action takes place as it is in our English past, present and future. In Greek, a verb tense is more about the type of action taking place. That is, it can be continuous or ongoing, or undefined without any indication of time, or perfect, which means a past action with a present effect. Some of these verb forms have no English equivalent.

Another peculiarity is that English has definite articles, such as ‘the’ as well as indefinite articles such as ‘an’ but Greek has only definite articles and no indefinite articles. If you see them in an English Bible, they were added by the translators so the text makes sense to the readers.

These are two of many peculiarities that challenge those who interpret the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. Learning such things has given me a great deal of respect for those who translate anything from one language into another. I’ve learn that most of our Bibles are reliable too, even though there are differences in the way they are worded.

Yet even more amazing is that no one needs to be a Greek scholar to understand Scripture. If my heart is open to God, I can hear Him speak to me, sometimes in comfort, and sometimes painfully loud and clear. Looking closely at the language might clarify small mistakes in interpretation, but no amount of close looking will change the Word of God. He knows how to use it, English, Greek or any other language, to get my attention.

Today, He gave me a bit of a shake with these very familiar verses . . . “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17)

This passage uses a Greek word “agape” for love throughout these verses. Many Christians think this is a special word reserved for the love of God, and that any sinful affection could not be described with that word. However, this is not true. Here agape is both positive and negative.

My Greek dictionary says that “agape” means to have a sincere appreciation or high regard for someone or something. We can love God, other Christians, family and friends with this love that is from God, but that same high regard can also flow out of a strong desire to have what belongs to someone else, or to engage in an activity which is morally wrong. Obviously God’s love is not at the root of covetousness or immorality. Instead, that forbidden love comes from the world even though it is uses the same word.

To add to the confusion, in these verses the “world” is not the orb we call ‘earth’ – but this word refers to “the system of practices and standards associated with secular society without reference to any demands or requirements of God.”

As I wrestled with the use of the same word to describe a good thing and a forbidden thing, another thought popped into my head: we do this all the time in English. We say, “I love chocolate” and “I love orange” and “I love the movies” and “I love my mother” using the same word for all, but the love we have for cookies, or horses, or reading, is not the same as our love for a child, or a dear friend. When we talk like that, the normal way that others understand what we mean by ‘love’ is by the context in which it is said.

That is exactly another thing that I’ve learned about Greek; the most important way to know what a word means is by its context. Look carefully at how it is being used.

It would be helpful if we made a distinction concerning the various things we love, perhaps using words such as: like, care for, am fond of, and so on, but we do not. Neither did the writer of 1 John. In fact, John is known for using synonyms and regardless of his reasons for writing that way, he got my attention. I need to think carefully about the loves he describes in this passage.

I clearly understand what God is saying. Some of the people that I say I love, I do not love at all. My love is about what I get out of it, and that is how the world loves. God’s love is not at all like that. His version of “agape” is always about what He can put into it, and how He can be a blessing to those He loves.

If that were not clear enough, the Lord also says that my selfish loves are “passing away.” My Greek dictionary says, “to go out of existence — to cease to exist, to pass away, to cease.” It will not last; it cannot last.

At that, one would expect the next line to read, “but the love of God abides forever,” but it doesn’t. In another twist of words, the text says, “but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” Ouch.

Greek has been filling my head with grammar terms and complex definitions, but these plain words from God are pushing them aside and telling me again how to think with the mind of Christ and how to love others.