September 8

Take every thought captive to obey Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5

Isaiah 1:1-2:22
2 Corinthians 10:1-18
Psalm 52:1-9
Proverbs 22:26-27

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New Testament: Psalm 52:1-9

God will bring judgment on the wicked!

Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day. Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, “See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly.
~ Psalms 52:1-9

New Testament: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18

Summary: Paul Defends His Ministry

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
~ 2 Corinthians 10:5

Perhaps we have wondered why proud attitudes offend God so much*. Our attitudes are just thoughts, we say. God is great and powerful; nothing that we think can upset his rule*.

Here Paul provides an explanation. Of course the proud thoughts of people cannot upset God’s rule in heaven. Of course people’s evil thoughts and wicked plans will not be able to prevent his rule over the earth (Psalm 2). However, the wrong thoughts of people can and do prevent God’s rule over their lives. In other words, they refuse to obey God. Their own weak thoughts matter more to them than the words of God, who is their maker. That is a very proud way to behave: to care about your own thoughts more than God’s opinion. It is astonishing that anyone ever behaves in such a manner*. However, we know that we are all sometimes guilty of this wrong behaviour.

Now, perhaps, we see that many of our other thoughts offend God, too. Even fear, doubt or the desire for happiness can rob God of his proper place in our lives. Even the love of money or a desire to impress people can prevent God’s rule over our lives. For these and many other reasons, people refuse to obey God – and that is always a very wrong thing to do.

The only answer is that we must accept Christ into his proper place, as a ruler of our lives. We must replace our proud attitudes with humble attitudes. A humble attitude means the attitude of someone who has chosen to obey God with a willing heart*.

From: usefulbible.com – by Keith Simons