It Doesn't Matter What I Think -- Or Does It?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

We have renounced the hidden things of shame . . .  —2 Corinthians 4:2

 

‘Have you “renounced the hidden things of shame” in your life—the things that your sense of honor or pride will not allow to come into the light? You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone that you would not like to be brought into the light? Then renounce it as soon as it comes to mind—renounce everything in its entirety until there is no hidden dishonesty or craftiness about you at all. Envy, jealousy, and strife don’t necessarily arise from your old nature of sin, but from the flesh which was used for these kinds of things in the past (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1-3). You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.[…] —God has called you to a higher standard. Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest—your best for His glory. […] Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted.’ CHAMBERS

 

The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  But there is a part of us that goes unspoken.  It is our thought life.  Those things that we think about but don’t act on. Sinful things that remain hidden from others.  One problem .. Jesus said that it does not matter if we act on those thoughts .. the mere fact that we have them, is contrary to our new nature.

 

Matthew 5:28 “But I [Jesus] tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

 

1 John 3:15 “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”

 

James 1:14-15 “each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

 

Your thought life is not harmless.  Your hidden attitudes are of great spiritual consequence.   It is not a question of whether or not you act on them.  When you have sinned in your heart … you have sinned .. you don’t have to act it out.  You have the Spirit of Truth and the Word of Truth to guide you … yield to their conviction … glorify God in every part of your life .. seen and unseen. And let your light shine before all men. ELGIN

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)