Thouhts

       “ A penny for your thoughts.” I haven't heard that expression in recent days but I used to hear it when I was in high school, of course, that was a long time ago. It would usually come up when you were just sitting there looking off into space and someone would want to find out what you were thinking about. When you didn't want to tell them, you would just say, “Oh, nothing.” That wasn't usually true as your mind seems to always be active thinking about one thing or another. I don't recall ever having a moment when there wasn't some thought or two roaming around in my head. I will have to admit that many of my thoughts are completely without value for anything. There might be some profound thought here and there, but for the most part, they are just random thoughts that come and go. Second Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 

         

            The word that is used for “imaginations” is a word that Paul used twice in his writings and that does not occur anywhere else other than those two times, here in 2 cor. 10:5 and in Romans 2;15, where it is translated as “thoughts.” Realizing that our minds are never in neutral, but always thinking about something, the question comes up, “What are we thinking about?” Perhaps we are thinking about how we can acquire a new material possession or perhaps how we can attract another person's attention, or perhaps we are thinking about how we can get even with someone who has made an aggravating statement about us. Perhaps we heard a rumor about something and we are wondering how it could possibly be true and what is to become of it. The imagination, or the thought process in our minds, is something that is continually active and it is especially active when we seek to imagine what people are going to do to us or what they are going to say if such and such takes place. That is where the imagination runs rampant and all kinds of scenarios come to mind which usually don't ever stand a chance of taking place, but we think that they could and if they do, this is the way we will respond to it. Of course, it never happens and you have wasted a lot of time on useless imaginations or thoughts. The lesson of the verse is simple. “Capture the thoughts.” We are to “bring them into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” When I think of the principle of this passage, I almost automatically think of Philippians 4:8 where it says, “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.” This passage tells us what to think about. Notice the last four words, “...think on these things.” It begins with thinking about that which is “true.” What better place is there to be safe than thinking about Scripture? Praise God today for giving us His Word in which we can think and ponder and meditate and find rest, hope and peace.