2 Corinthians 10:5 - Take Every Thought Captive!
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV) Casting down
arguments and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought
into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
COMMENTARY PEARLS
Todays thoughts are tomorrows
actions.
Todays jealousy is tomorrows temper
tantrum.
Todays bigotry is tomorrows hate
crime.
Todays anger is tomorrows abuse.
Todays lust is tomorrows adultery.
Todays greed is tomorrows
embezzlement.
Todays guilt is tomorrows fear.
Could that be why Paul writes, Love
keeps no record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5
NIV)?
Some folks dont know we have an option.
Paul says we do: We capture every
thought and make it give up and obey Christ (2
Corinthians 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in
that passage - capture every thought,
make it give up and obey Christ? You get
the impression that we are the soldiers and the
thoughts are the enemies.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts
that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter?
Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and
resurrection, but Peter couldnt bear the thought of it.
Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk
like that. Jesus said to Peter, Go away
from me, Satan! You are not helping me! You
dont care about the things of God, but only about
the things people think are important
(Matt. 16:22"23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus?
What if you did that? What if you took
every thought captive? What if you took the
counsel of Solomon: Be careful what you think,
because your thoughts run your life (Prov.
4:23).
You are not a victim of your thoughts.
You have a vote. You have a voice. You can
exercise thought prevention. You can also exercise
thought permission.
Change the thoughts, and you change the
person. If todays thoughts are tomorrows
actions, what happens when we fill our minds with
thoughts of Gods love? Will standing beneath the
downpour of his grace change the way we feel about
others?
Paul says absolutely! Its not enough
to keep the bad stuff out. Weve got to let
the good stuff in. Its not enough to keep no
list of wrongs. We have to cultivate a list of
blessings. The same verb Paul uses for keeps in the
phrase keeps no list of wrongs is used for
think in Philippians 4:8: Whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if
there is any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things
(RSV). Thinking conveys the idea of pondering -
studying and focusing, allowing what is viewed to
have an impact on us.
Rather than store up the sour, store up
the sweet. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at
maxlucado.com]
Check Your Garbage
Life has a way of unloading its rubbish
on our doorstep! Your husband works too much.
Your wife gripes too much. Your kids whine too
much. The result? Trash! Load after load of
bitterness, anxiety, deceit, and distrust. It all piles
up. Now, mark it down. Todays anger is
tomorrows abuse. Todays lust is tomorrows
adultery. Todays guilt is tomorrows fear.
Todays thoughts are tomorrows actions. So, deal
with the trash!
Could that be why Paul says, Love
keeps no record of wrongs? (1 Corinthians 13:5
NIV). Let trash pile up and people are going to
smell it. Are we victims of the emotional bacteria
of the season? Or do we have a choice? Paul
says we have an option. We capture every
thought and make it give up and obey Christ (2
Corinthians 10:5). We have a choice. You might want to
check your garbage. [Max Lucado Daily Devotional
at maxlucado.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190514-0828.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
