[Blogger's note: please forgive the lateness of today's post. We are in the process of moving our offices and the recent heat wave has created a very tight window for completing the move. Today we got the bulk of the move completed. Thanks for understanding.]
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 57; Isaiah 58; Isaiah 59; Psalm 103; 2 Peter 3
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.
Observation: It is a simple purpose that Peter shares with his readers. The letters he writes serve "as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking." I totally identify with this purpose for that is the purpose of my blog. As I have written in the above description, "let's use this blog as a tool to stimulate discipline and dedication to God's word and prayer." I want to encourage and motivate all of my friends and family to wholesome thinking by spending more time in reading and studying the Bible, and by journaling. Peter wrote his letters for much the same purpose.
Application: When we read the word, we should realize that those who penned the Bible were people like us who recognized the need for the word of God in their own lives and in the lives of the people they served. And as Peter indicates, there is a health-producing effect of spending time in the word. Wholesome thinking is not something that just happens on its own. On the contrary, there are plenty of stimuli promoting unwholesome thinking. Then, and even more now, the world is filled with crass, crude, rude, filthy, and inappropriate words and images that promote anything but wholesome thinking. It is especially important that we who are true believers in God and servants of Jesus Christ do not expose our minds to those things that lead to unwholesome thinking. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things." In this Peter and Paul and Pastor Mike all agree. :)
Prayer: Lord, help us to take seriously the task of wholesome thinking and to carefully consider what we allow ourselves to see, hear, and read. Lord, the entertainments and amusements of this world are trending more and more to the base and immoral and You are looking for a people who are set apart for You purposes. Help us to keep ourselves from those things that corrupt our minds and hearts. May we spend time with Your word and other things that elevate our thoughts and give us soundness of mind, speech, and action.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 comment:
If I'm forced to be really honest with myself, I must admit to a few "guilty pleasures" as far as TV shows that I watch which don't stimulate wholesome thinking. Yoy are so right that we need to spend our time much more3 productively if we desire to grow spiritually and affect our world.
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