…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ… —2 Corinthians 10:5
Determinedly Discipline Other Things. This is another difficult aspect of the strenuous nature of sainthood. Paul said, according to the Moffatt translation of this verse, “…I take every project prisoner to make it obey Christ….” So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse! In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of His Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will— “the Son can do nothing of Himself…” (John 5:19). Then compare this with what we do— we take “every thought” or project that comes to us by impulse and jump into action immediately, instead of imprisoning and disciplining ourselves to obey Christ.
Practical work for Christians is greatly overemphasized today, and the saints who are “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity” are criticized and told that they are not determined, and that they lack zeal for God or zeal for the souls of others. But true determination and zeal are found in obeying God, not in the inclination to serve Him that arises from our own undisciplined human nature. It is inconceivable, but true nevertheless, that saints are not “bringing every thought [and project] into captivity,” but are simply doing work for God that has been instigated by their own human nature, and has not been made spiritual through determined discipline.
We have a tendency to forget that a person is not only committed to Jesus Christ for salvation, but is also committed, responsible, and accountable to Jesus Christ’s view of God, the world, and of sin and the devil. This means that each person must recognize the responsibility to “be transformed by the renewing of [his] mind….” (Romans 12:2).
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September 9, 2016
Journal entry for today-JDV
Good morning God, and thank you for this devotional and the lessons You are teaching us from these devotionals. After dedicating our study to You and praying that You lead us, we once again substituted the word “surrender” in front of any activity or action on our part and concluded that one way for us to “bring every thought [and project] into captivity” is for us to start every project or activity of every day with a short prayer of surrender. In this way we can live knowing we will be “praying without ceasing” and we can absolutely look through the rear view mirror of our day knowing that the results of our day fit into Romans 8:28…”all things work together for our good.” Such a simple lesson but one we have not truly executed throughout each day. Thank You for showing us this opportunity.
And God says…”Good intentions and good outcomes” are not indicators that you have taken EVERY thought captive, or that I am in the outcome. Early in your Christian life you learned this scripture… “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ… —2 Corinthians 10:5” as a guide for casting out secular, natural and sinful thoughts. And this scripture was used by your teachers to help motivate you to lose secular and sinful thoughts; to live out of thoughts captive to Me. However, this scripture is also a guide as to how to live a connected life. Take every thought; secular or “spiritual” and surrender it to me. Take every project, large or small, every household duty and surrender it to Me. Do not just say grace over your breakfast; surrender the preparation of the breakfast to Me. Surrender every thought, every project, whether you believe it to be spiritual or not; surrender it to Me in advance of any action on your part.”
“When you live this way, you can be sure that you are in fact praying without ceasing and living a life of surrender and connection. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will take care of your daily needs, projects and opportunities. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight.”
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