THOUGHTS AND AFFECTIONS

 

There is no doubt that your life often flows in the direction of your most predominant thoughts. Despite scripture’s firm stance on your identity, an altered thought pattern can lead to an experiential identity crises. Sometimes, it may not manifest as mere doubts of what scripture calls you, but manifests as a disparity in our actions i.e. actions that don’t line up with who we are(called to be).

 

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he…” proverbs 23:7

 

This scripture suggests that the most accurate way to know a man is his thinking pattern. The contents and predominant contemplations of his heart give a near-perfect depiction of who the man is, what he is likely to do, and where his allegiance lies. This is why God looks at the heart, never the outward appearance. 

 

And guess what? The nature of the fallen state of man dooms him to think thoughts inconsistent with who God has called him to be. Here’s the verdict of God on the state of man’s heart pre-redemption:

 

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?

Even you, can underestimate your heart’s ability to stray from God’s word.

 

See Jesus words:

 

Mark 7:20 And He said, What comes out of a man is what makes a man unclean and renders [him] unhallowed.

Mark 7:21 For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery,

Mark 7:22 Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness).

Mark 7:23 All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed.

 

At redemption, the Lord works on the heart, changing its nature from stone to flesh(I.e. one that is receptive and alive to God) See: Ezekiel 36:26

 

However, scripture emphasizes that responsibility is placed on us to watch what goes on within our heart. Now, being given a heart receptive to God’s word, it is our responsibility to ensure that the contents of our heart are consistent with scripture. If we do this, our ways will line up with the Lord’s will, and we will be loyal followers of Jesus.

 

Remember, we can deceive ourselves, but the Lord who tries our hearts cannot be deceived. 

 

Proverbs 24:12 If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works?

 

Man can offer good things, and even believe himself to be good. But what declares his virtue is what goes on in his heart.

 

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts. [Prov. 24:12; Luke 16:15.]

 

 It is on this wise, that the psalmist proclaims; 

 

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23-24

We are admonished to be vigilant over the contents of our heart, because they can give rise to affections and desires that will eventually form our most predominant thoughts. Your mind will fixate on it most times. And if the object of your constant meditation is not God, you will find yourself serving another master whilst you claim to be serving the Lord.

 

Hence, the apostle Paul writes;

Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

 

Know that serving God requires consistent pursuit, and that is only made possible when the object of your desire is God Himself. Also note that you cannot chase the world and God at the same time. It is impossible for your heart to chase two things. Hence, we should not even be thinking of many things.

 

The apostle John writes; 

 

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

It is no wonder that the Lord tells us countlessly to take no thought of ourselves in this world. Constant anxiety over things in this world can brood into something ugly, stealing our hearts away from Jesus.

 

Matthew 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 

Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

 

See Apostle Paul’s remark;

 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

I want to encourage you to put all in for the Lord. The more you ruminate on the Word, the more it will frame your thoughts and produce fruits consistent with the Spirit. Sin

 

Go beyond reading the Bible just to fulfill the rituals of devotion, while your heart pants for the world. Go beyond worshipping in a bid to attain things from Him. It is for this reason that countless Scriptures have been taken out of context, and twisted to communicate our earnest desire for things.

 

Beware of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Set yourself on things above, that the prince of this world may have no hold over you. Let your mind camp on His word, and be fortified in Christ.

 

Thanks be to God for the gift of His Spirit, who helps us in this regard. Who changes our affections to suit his will. Who works in us, both to will and do of His good pleasure. Amen