The thought of Christ

BIBLE STUDY #767- HOME STUDIES TUESDAY, APRIL 30 @ MAY 6, 2013 Theme: “The thought of Christ” 1 Peter 4:1

The thought is the imaginary place where the ideas formed in the mind are kept (stored). So, the thought is the capacity that we have to form ideas and representations of the reality in the mind. So, the mind is full of thoughts. An idea is an abstract representation of something real or unreal that is formed in the mind of the person. The thought becomes in us a fortitude that is capable of guiding our lives. Nevertheless, we can be mistaken with a thought and that thought can be guiding us through the wrong path. Let us be cautious that our thought be the same as Christ’s and not the thoughts of the ungodly men who live separated from God and goodness. So, there are bad ideas that may arrive at our thoughts which we should reject so they won’t settle in our minds. According to Deuteronomy 15:9 the heart must be guarded so there won’t be perverse thoughts. Here it speaks about having perverse thoughts to not help the needy brother. This happens with the poor brothers to whom money will be loaned according to the laws of Moses. Those who had would have to give and lend to those who didn’t have. But the bad ideas arrive and the head starts to scheme with evil thoughts. The bad ideas arise in the mind not to help the needy by not lending to them. Mainly, because of the fact that all debts were cancelled in the seventh year. The year of remission would become a temptation to not lend and many denied the loan to the needy brothers since the time was approaching to cancel and pardon the debts. In 1 Kings 18:21 we see another example of problems with the thoughts. This is when there are two different thoughts contending in the mind. Israel did not know who they wanted to serve, if the Lord or Baal. Elijah accuses the people of hesitating between those two ideas; they should choose between Jehovah and Baal. Elijah knew God; it was like insane that the people God had chosen would have those thoughts full of rebelliousness. One should not hobble between those two thoughts. We should have clear thoughts of who is Jehovah and follow Him without any comparison or indecision. In Job 42:2 Job said: “…no plan of yours can be thwarted.” We must know how pending God is of our thoughts. If our thoughts are erroneous, then there are big things we need to fix. We have to be willing to amend our thoughts. Jehovah’s law should be in your thoughts so that they can pass as good and acceptable before the Lord. One great problem with our thoughts is that in many occasions they are vain. Psalms 94:11 “The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.” How foolish and clumsy are those who think that God will not find out! If He is the only one with the skills to make and place the ear, the voice and the brain in the human body. Then, those ideas of superiority lead us to go after what is vain; that pride of believing to be better than anyone else provokes an inconsiderate treatment towards others. For this reason the psalmist says in Psalms 139:23: “Test me and know my anxious thoughts.” The psalmist asks the strong God to examine him rigorously and know his heart, to carefully test and acknowledge his thoughts. This reaction comes from an honest person who wants to please God and retract of all evil thoughts, different from those who claim to be innocent and want to be justified with excuses and explanations. The confession of those who have been in the presence of the Lord and convinced of their own sinful condition is good. They recognize that they can’t see all their iniquities and desire that the Lord point it out in order to treat them with effectiveness. Let us be righteous and fair before God like the psalmist . Prov.19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” There are many thoughts in one’s heart, but what should remain is God’s advice. Our thoughts are many ideas that are in accordance with what we have heard, seen and accumulated for years. These should be adopted and restructured in accordance to Jehovah’s advice. 1 Peter 4:1 “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” Christ’s thoughts should be our same thoughts. We have been considering Christ as an example of the one who has suffered unfairly. He has suffered in the hands of the wicked men for the cause of justice. We followers should arm ourselves with the same thought. You should expect to suffer for His name just as He suffered. The believer is confronted with two alternatives, to either sin or suffer like their Master. Suffering, to endure, is Christ’s thought. You cannot live with a lot of ideas that captivate you from God’s will to drive you to sin. Let it not be like the nation of God, Israel, who went after Baal. The devil wants to take you to the pleasures of the world, but God will take you through the road of justice, you will have the joy of the Spirit and the joy of salvation. Amen.