Articles
Think!
* * * * * * * * * * *
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:11)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Rom. 8:5)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Rom. 12:3)
* * * * * * * * * * *
Look closely at the highlighted phrases in these four verses. See a pattern? All four address the role of thinking in setting the trajectory of our lives. They are a mere sampling of a theme that plays out across the entire Bible: we are what we think.
The significance of that truth cannot be overstated. What we think of ourselves influences how we relate to the world around us. All the destructive hang-ups that sabotage our relationships with others--self-pity, arrogance, selfishness, envy, and so on--are rooted in a faulty view of ourselves. Only by correcting what we think of ourselves on the inside can we fix what's broken on the outside.
What we think of God sets the foundation for our decision-making. If we are convinced there is no God, or that God is some kind of spineless grandfather who rubber-stamps all our desires, then we are more likely to dismiss "sin" as a relic of ancient times, and live accordingly. On the other hand, if we see God as the Master of our lives to whom we must give an account someday, we will be more careful to understand and obey His instructions.
What we think of history, both past and future, determines how we view our role in it. If we see all of history as just a jumbled, chaotic mess, then why should our lives any meaning at all? But if we see history as a sweeping saga choreographed by God Himself, the perspective shifts: I really do have a purpose here.
What we think of others will naturally translate into how we treat them. It's impossible to "love your neighbor as yourself" if you see your neighbor as worthless. Only by viewing others as creatures of intrinsic value can we find the motivation to treat them with dignity and respect.
Paul's many allusions to "thinking" throughout the book of Romans lead up to a key conclusion: "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). If a major purpose of the Bible is to reform our lives, the process begins with a reshaping of our minds.
Think about it.
--David
