2Co. 10:5
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.
When I first saw this verse a few years ago, it was scarcy. take captive every thought? eeekkkk How can I do that? It seems impossible.
Only recently i revisited that verse, I realise it has ideas has two parts to it; one, what we must do and, two, how we do it.
first , we must demolish arguments and pretensions. So when I think know something, but Lord makes it clear I am wrong I cannot cling to that , but it must be cast aside. as far a pretensions are concerned , I cannot assume i understand it all , or know it all, or have something all figured out. This too must be demolished. I must be ever teachable and always learning.
second, this was tougher.
"..take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"
The key i believe is the word TO.
I can take captive the thought, but the LORD is the one that makes it obedient.
so lets say, I'm having some sinful and undesirable thought. I simply make a "citzen arrest" on it and bring it the my magistrate , The LORD.
an example;
If have a thought that is sinful. I repeat 2 cor 10:5, then I quickly pray " Dear Lord, I take this thought and bring it to you, so that you my dispose of it as you wish." After the thought is gone I praise him, because if i leave my mind empty the thought will only return.
I have been practicing this lately and it has worked quite well.
Of course I need to remember to do that , and all so must be willing to let go of that thought. Ultimately Christ must command my entire life, including my thought life.
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.
When I first saw this verse a few years ago, it was scarcy. take captive every thought? eeekkkk How can I do that? It seems impossible.
Only recently i revisited that verse, I realise it has ideas has two parts to it; one, what we must do and, two, how we do it.
first , we must demolish arguments and pretensions. So when I think know something, but Lord makes it clear I am wrong I cannot cling to that , but it must be cast aside. as far a pretensions are concerned , I cannot assume i understand it all , or know it all, or have something all figured out. This too must be demolished. I must be ever teachable and always learning.
second, this was tougher.
"..take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"
The key i believe is the word TO.
I can take captive the thought, but the LORD is the one that makes it obedient.
so lets say, I'm having some sinful and undesirable thought. I simply make a "citzen arrest" on it and bring it the my magistrate , The LORD.
an example;
If have a thought that is sinful. I repeat 2 cor 10:5, then I quickly pray " Dear Lord, I take this thought and bring it to you, so that you my dispose of it as you wish." After the thought is gone I praise him, because if i leave my mind empty the thought will only return.
I have been practicing this lately and it has worked quite well.
Of course I need to remember to do that , and all so must be willing to let go of that thought. Ultimately Christ must command my entire life, including my thought life.