August 01, 2023 | Be On Mission
Taking Captive Every Thought
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10(NIV)
1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
7 You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Devotional
Make no mistake about it. We are in a spiritual battle. Satan desires nothing more than to draw us away from the goodness of God. However, we are not defenseless. We have an arsenal that includes the “divine power to demolish strongholds.” There may be generational sin that has been passed down to you, but you are not trapped in that cycle.
Our words and actions begin in the mind. Paul said, “…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (v. 5). Now there’s a thought. Change our thoughts. What we think about matters. Look at what the Bible says about this topic.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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” (Philippians 4:8).
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).
How do the above verses speak to the value of making our thoughts align with Christ? What are some things you think about that you wish you could stop dwelling on? What is a different thought that would be more honoring to God? Are there any outside influences that bring those good or bad thoughts to mind? What are some steps you could make in order to take captive those thoughts and make them obedient to Christ?
Poem
Discipline's Rodeo
Saddle what’s wild
Though bucking strong
You stay upon it mounted
Keep in corral
‘Spite rationale
With boundaries high surround it
Rein in that tongue
A bit, cold steel,
You do your best to tame it
Don’t let it run
E’en when “in fun”
Do all you can, restrain it
Hog-tie that thought
You bind its legs
Cinched tight, keep it from running
Upon the ground
You lay it down
And mussel it from yowling
Brand now your heart
With Spirit’s fire
Though soul is bawling “freedom!”
Claim it for God
With iron rod
Returning your life to Eden
Throw down those trophies
At Christ’s throne
Once all of sin’s defeated
Give all the fame
To Jesus’ name
And kneel where He is seated
Then throw your hat
Back in the ring
And learn the whooping praises
As you begin
More souls to win
As new trails the Way blazes
