Programming my spiritual computer

My desktop computer is nearly ten years old. It is updated often, kept clear of junk files and unnecessary stuff and It runs well and fast. However, one day I could turn it on and it won’t work, so I’ve been looking at upgrading, a formidable task.

To describe our minds, MacArthur uses a computer slogan that says, “Garbage in, garbage out” — also applies to human minds. Jesus said something similar, that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, but adds this:

it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person . . . . Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matthew 15:11–20)

The human heart is programmable but not quite the same way as a computer. My PC does what it does because of what has been put in, but my mouth and behavior do what they do because of what is already there. That is, sin isn’t programmed in, but it does show up (or not) depending on what I feed my mind and what choices I make. That is, I can watch the daily news and my choices could include anger that God is not stopping the evil in the world or trust that His will is done, regardless of what I can see. The garbage that goes in does not necessarily mean that garbage will come out. Because of Christ living in me, I am to . . .

Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:10–12)

However, to do this requires “increasing in the knowledge of God” and living according to the choices He wants, yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit and putting to death those old ways of thinking. He wants my thoughts to come from the mind of Christ that is in me so I can think . . .

. . .  whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Again, this requires “being filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9) and “being filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). This is the opposite of “garbage in” and in a sense more like the process described  by this verse:

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)

That idea of “garbage out” is about refusing to live by the garbage of my sinful old self. Instead of letting it come out, I am to do this:

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5–10)

Being filled with the Spirit means He guides and even controls my choices. It may seem that I am producing godly thoughts and actions, yet He is like a hand in a glove that determines what I do. Others may see only the glove, but the power of godly living belongs to His hand and the glove is yielded to Him and useless otherwise.

PRAY: Jesus, as I become aware of garbage, I’m thankful that confessing it means You forgive and cleanse it (1 John 1:9). As I yield to You, I’m thankful that Your Spirit will control the output. Fill me and help me be aware of Your voice and Your ideas that I might be obedient in every area of how I think and what I say and do.

PONDER: Philippians 4:8 and use it as a reminder of how to think like Jesus thinks and to clue me to take out any garbage that so easily ruins the goodness You desire.

 

 

Been there, done that

One person is emotionally high all the time, bounces all over the place, and continually expresses that everything in her messed-up life is just peachy.

Another person complains and is dissatisfied. He grumbles about anything and everything and rarely expresses thanks. He says his life is terrible, never the way he wants it.

Jesus says that whatever comes out of our mouth shows the condition of our hearts. He also gives us permission to examine the lives of others — so we can understand the condition of their hearts and respond accordingly:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20)

Here Jesus is talking about false prophets, yet His description of how they can be known by what they do applies to everyone. I cannot judge without knowledge or speculate without reasons for it, but He tells me to be a fruit inspector. Praying for discernment is important. I’ve noticed that discernment is enhanced by connecting the dots between what is going on in my own heart and what is coming out of my mouth and showing up in my life.

According to what Jesus says, the two examples above very likely have unhealthy hearts. The first one wants others to think of her as cheerful, always positive, never complaining. Yet her life is not as wonderful as she claims. Instead of being transparent with her friends, she hides behind layers and comes across as dishonest and even deceitful.

The second person is dissatisfied with the way God runs the world, which is true of all complainers. In his mind, any uncomfortable situation is clearly wrong because his idea of God demands good experiences, a god who indulges his comfort and desires. He cannot see God as He is because his faith is weak or non-existent.

I can say these things because I’ve been there, done that. While it would be nice to be happy and carefree all the time, that is not how life works. God gives us joy, but not without challenges. For instance, Jesus wept. He loved us to the point of dying for us. Because He lives in my heart, I often feel His passion and angst for the situations in the world and even in my own life. I’ve seen His face streaming with tears. He calls me to carry burdens for others, weep with those who weep, even lay down my life for them. I cannot do that if I pretend there are no sorrows. Bringing them to Him is far better that living in denial.

The complaining person is also easy to identify with. My feet are sore. The lights are too dim. I don’t feel like cooking supper. Telemarketers will not give up. Groceries are too expensive. Too many in my family are not saved. the world is in a mess. Need I go one? Finding something to complain about is easy. Looking for God’s purpose in those situations is far better. Seeing Him use all things for good is exciting. I cannot do that when I’m dissatisfied, filled with self-centered griping and not trusting the Lord.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, one of Your greatest gifts is being able to look at life realistically yet be content, knowing all things are in Your hands. Forgive the times I cover up or try to fake joy. Forgive the times I stop trusting You because things don’t go the way I want them to and I complain. Use all things to remove whatever blockages and barricades I’ve put up in attempts to avoid total trust. Use all things to transform me into Your image.