We’ll discuss this verse a lot more later. An entire book could be written on it. However, for now, it is a good way to show what good thoughts are.
First, you may ask, “Why can’t I just think whatever I want?” The world’s system doesn’t love you like God does. God loves you more than you can imagine. You are extremely important to Him.
A famous – and very good - movie, “Casablanca,” had a number of lines and scenes that have been copied in different ways through the years. These lines began with that movie. One of them is spoken by Humphrey Bogart: “The lives of three little people ain’t worth a hill of beans in this crazy world.”
That was true then. It is far truer now, when so many people only care about themselves or money. However, it will never be true of God. If you were the only person ever, He still would have come to this earth, suffered, bled, and died for you. He could have stayed in His perfect heaven and ignored everyone. However, He had you – and every other person – on His mind when He died on that cross, to rise from the dead three days later. Since He gave all that for you, isn’t it only fitting that – when He gives directions to help you – that you should listen?
God’s Word says to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) This doesn’t mean we have to think about Jesus 24 hours a day. In fact, when we look at the context of the verse, we see that it is talking about the spiritual battle that we fight daily.
The hymn “Victory In Jesus” is a great one. It talks about how we have victory in that daily fight. But, you can’t have victory if you’re not trying to win something, right? You can’t just step onto the basketball court alone, pick up the ball, and say “I won!” That would be crazy. You have to have played someone first.
This verse is telling us how to win. You can’t win at a game if you don’t have your mind in it. Just as you have to have your mind in the game, you have to have your mind on the right thing in the spiritual battle. That means you have to get rid of those thoughts that go against God’s Word. Thoughts that tell us to be mean, vengeful, and so on. We can’t win without bringing those thoughts into obedience with what Jesus wants us to think about. That’s what that verse is saying.
The Apostle Paul was a sports lover himself. He talks about something similar in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. He compared it to a race. It’s a race to receive an incorruptible crown. That means one that won’t wear out. And, he talked of bringing his body into subjection, just like a runner does, so he won’t be a “castaway.” That meant that he wouldn’t be disqualified from the race.
If he had messed up, he wouldn’t have lost his salvation. However, he would have lost blessings and rewards. He wouldn’t have had the chance to do many great things for God. That’s why he brought himself into subjection. And, that’s why we should think about things that are good, just, lovely, and so on. So we can win the battles.
The Bible can help you to be an example of Jesus. That doesn’t mean you have to suffer horribly like He did. It might mean you will suffer persecution, depending on what you do and where you are. And, it will mean you need to let those fruits of the Spirit grow in you. That’s how others will learn about Jesus.
You may be the only example of Jesus someone will see. Even if you aren’t the only example they see, you have the chance to let people say, “I’m in Heaven because of that person.” It’s just like that song, “Find Us Faithful,” I mentioned.
Don’t worry. It’s not impossible. You see, we don’t just have to read God’s Word. We can talk to God directly through prayer, and get His help.
