A Penny for Your Thoughts

Posted on February 4, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

Solomon wrote, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Pro 23:7). This doesn’t mean, as some teach, that I can think prosperity and blessings into my life. Rather, the basic idea underscores the importance of one’s thoughts. Note that mind, thoughts, and thinking are forms of the same root word. The mind is the control center of life. It determines who we are, what we believe about God, how we relate to others, how we handle situations, and through the mind we control our life. In other words, our mind and thoughts regulate everything about us. Outside influences can affect our thinking nevertheless with the mind we determine how we react. Satan attacks us through our thoughts. J. Oswald Sanders gave this insight, “The mind of man is the battleground on which every moral and spiritual battle is fought.”

Here are several ways the devil wars against people’s thoughts. He blinds the minds of non-believers. The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Co 4:4); But their minds were blinded [or hardened] (2 Co 3:l4 NKJV). ). Paul takes this battle of the mind all the way back to the Garden of Eden But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2Co 11:3). Satan hurls untrue thoughts at us every day through what we see, hear, read, and experience. Like a virus trying to invade our computers, his goal is to reprogram our thinking pattern and establish a stronghold (2 Cor 10:4). A stronghold, used only here, means an opposing bulwark of error or vice. Paul employs it to indicate an incorrect thinking pattern based on lies.

Salvation begins with repentance which literally means to change our mind, to undergo a change in frame of thoughts, or to think differently. God knew the tactics the devil would use again believers and sent the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts. Jesus assured His disciples, when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth (Jn 16:13) and He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you (v14:26). For every lie the devil throws at us from the outside, we have the Holy Spirit within us teaching and guiding us into truth. The Spirit empowers us to choose and live out the truth. Even if a stronghold has built up in a believer, through the Spiritthey possess divinely powerful [weapons] for the destruction of a stronghold (Cor 10:4).

God has given all these and more assurances, but it begins and continues by the choices we make in our mind. Joshua expressed the idea of choice well, “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord“ (Jos 24:15). Martha made a choice to stay in the kitchen and work, but Mary choose to listen to Jesus teach. When Martha complained she had no help, He criticized her choice and commended Mary’s decision. Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Lk 10:42). “Our defeat or victory begins with what we think, and if we guard our thoughts, we shall not have much trouble anywhere else along the line” (Vance Havner). We must choose to set our mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth (Col 3:2). Peter says, therefore, prepare your minds for action (1 Pet1:13).

So we might ask how do we change we way we think? First, let the word of Christ richly dwell within you (Col 3:16).  In order to do this we must put His Word into our mind. Satan takes advantage of any believer who is ignorant of the Word. This doesn’t mean going to Bible College, but daily reading and studying the Word. He will transform usby renewing of our mind (Rom 12:2). New Living Translate states it clearly, don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. A scribe asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law” (Mat 22:36)? Jesus replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (v37). The word used for mind is also translated thoughts. Love the Lord with. . . all your thoughts.

We sometimes say to someone deep in thought, ‘A penny for your thoughts’. No penny, but I would ask what are you thinking as you read this? What are you going to feed your mind today—negativity, gossip, unclean talk, vile entertainment, etc.? Paul gives us a starting list on what we can think: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Phi 4:8). It won’t happen overnight, but you can change your pattern of thoughts.

Sustaining Word for the Week: With your mind, make a decision you are going to allow the Holy Spirit to change the way you think.

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Beyond the Canopy

Posted on January 28, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

“I thought you told me there was a scenic forest on this road; all I saw was a bunch of trees!” A fitting illustration for an old saying that goes back at least 450 years—’she can’t see the forest for the trees’. We probably know people who become so preoccupied with details they miss the main point. They failed to see the big picture. On the other hand, people can have the opposite perspective. They can’t see anything but the forest and have no interest in the details. Scripture gives examples of both outlooks. It appears the apostles had been so busy with the details of handing out bread and fish to the 5,000 and then to the 4,000 they missed the miracle. Afterward, while crossing the lake, they grew concerned about what they would eat. They only brought one piece of bread. Hearing their discussion, Jesus reminds them of how many He fed with five loaves and two fishes plus the leftovers they picked up. “Do you not yet understand” (Mk 8:21)? The disciples missed the miracle and the lesson Jesus was demonstrating because they became absorbed in their task.

A second example comes from the large crowds traveling with Jesus. This had to be exciting for the people watching all the miracles and hearing His powerful teaching. But becoming His disciple involved more than what they were observing in these events. Jesus turned and warned them it wasn’t all dramatic or just about teaching; it included difficult experiences. Whoever does not take up his cross and come after me may not be my disciple. (Lk 14:27 BBE). He clarified this through two parables. When a man desires to build a tower, after his initial mental image of the finished structure, he must consider the details and calculate the cost. Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money (Lk 14:29 NLT). In a second parable He asks, can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other (v31 MSG)? The eager crowds must see the big picture and count the cost.

Both perspectives are natural traits but can become unbalanced. Like the disciples we can miss the lesson because we allow the details to consume us. Or we can have a grandiose idea of how wonderful serving Christ might be then stumble when difficult times arise. Believers must learn to see both the forest and the trees; in other words, see the eternal and everyday practical concerns. When I taught my children how to spot animals in the woods, I trained them to look past the canopy which is the initial overall view. They developed the ability to see what was beyond the canopy through gaps between the trees, leaves, and brush. Satan tries to cloud our view with the troubles of the ‘here and now’. By faith, we must look beyond through the gaps and see His promises, perceive the presence to the Holy Spirit, and the answers that lie just beyond.

Jesus endured the shame and pain of the cross because He looked beyond and never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way (Heb 12:2 MSG). Imagine the thoughts that could have gone through Jesus’ mind if He hadn’t looked beyond His situation. “What a failure I am. I came to bring life and I’m dying. Even my closest disciples ran away. Everybody hates Me.” Similar thoughts can go through our mind if we don’t see beyond the canopy of this life. Note the example of Peter walking on the water. Matthew doesn’t say how far but Peter walked at least a few steps. He started out focused on Jesus, but Peter took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the fierce wind and waves. He became frightened and began to sink (Matt 14:30). In light of the above thoughts, at first Peter looked beyond the canopy of the storm and saw Jesus. But turned His focus back to his circumstances and began sinking.

Jesus first commended the church at Ephesus. I see what you’ve done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can’t stomach evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. I know your persistence, your courage in my cause, that you never wear out . . . You hate the Nicolaitan business. I hate it, too. (Rev 2:2, 3,6 MSG). The people were doing valuable work, but He condemned them for losing sight of their purpose. But you walked away from your first love-why? What’s going on with you, anyway (v4)? Jesus doesn’t abandon the church rather He says remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first (v4). Neither did Jesus desert Peter, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him (Matt 14:31). He scolded Peter but gave a lesson through His rebuke, “You of little faith, why did you doubt” (v31)? We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 6:7). By faith Moses persevered because he saw him who is invisible (Heb 11:27). Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (v1 NIV).

Sustaining Word for the Week: Learn to see the forest and the trees. Look beyond the canopy by faith and see the unseen hand of God at work.

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Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Posted on January 21, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

Think for a moment, what are the five best decisions you have made in your life? What are the five worst? Decisions determine the course of everyday life, small and big. We make many without even thinking. Yet, whether automatic or deliberate, we base them on something—an emotion, an event, our culture, our worldview, or our belief system. For believers, number one on their list of best decisions should be receiving Christ as Savior. But how did you arrive at that decision? Was it conviction by the Holy Spirit, a fiery evangelist who stirred your emotions, fear of death, desperation, or witness from a friend. Regardless of the how, at some point you made a decision, believed, and received the gift of salvation. After this, all believers must begin a process which continues throughout life, deciding what you believe. With over 40,000 denominations in the world, each with various doctrinal beliefs, not including local folk beliefs, new believers will encounter a lot of decisions in their future. Today with so many teachings through media, cable, radio, internet, podcasts, etc., how Christians decide becomes crucial.

 Ask people why they believe certain doctrines, you get responses like: “That’s what my church believes.” “It is what my dad and mom taught me.” “My pastor teaches it and I trust him.” “I watch Dr., Rev., Bro., Sis., ‘so and so’ on cable TV. He/she makes me feel good. What he/she says must be true.” In third-world countries you might hear, “That’s what the tribal elders say we must believe.” What is missing from each of these—“this is what the Word of God says.” Unless you are a hermit isolated in a cave, most people live in a cooperate social group. In civil matters the majority make decisions. However, salvation is an individual commitment. Deciding what we believe can be helped or hindered by others, but ultimately it’s a personal decision. God holds us accountable as individuals for what we believe. Jesus warned about the teachings of the Pharisees, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Mat 15:14).

Decisions bring about consequences. God gave us the ability to choose. He allowed Adam and Eve to make decisions, but they made the wrong decision. The world has suffered the consequences ever since. An excellent example of one who made correct decisions was Daniel. Immediately upon his arrival in Babylon, he faced a dilemma concerning the King’s choice of food which he required Daniel’s group to eat. First, the food violated the Jewish dietary laws and the King’s food had been offered to the Babylonian gods. And Daniel had come to the decision that he would not make himself unclean with the king’s food or wine (Dan. 1:8 BBC). The officials could have executed him, but Daniel decided based on God’s Law and the Lord honored that. When he made his request to the commander about what he ate, God granted Daniel favorand compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials (9).  

A second life threatening decision Daniel made came when a decree went out from King Darius. Anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den (6:7). Daniel had already made his decision. Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously (v10). So, off to the lion’s den. After a sleepless night, Darius realized he had made the wrong decision and rushed to the lion’s den. He called out to Daniel asking if His God had delivered him. Daniel responded, My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me (v22). Daniel never made decisions based on emotions, peer pressure, or circumstances. He decided he would trust God even with the threat of death and grounded in his belief system in the Law of God.

Every day both teenagers and adults face moral decisions: have sex, everybody’s doing it; alcohol and drugs, it will make you feel good; pornography, it will excite you; lie, it will keep you out of trouble. Do you go along with the crowd or stand alone? Years ago, I prayed and prayed about my hot temper. I blamed it on my red hair. Then one day after losing my temper, I asked God for forgiveness, and to take it away. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart in such a way I knew it was God. But I did not like His answer, “You make a decision to lose your temper.” I was angry for a couple of weeks. Then I realized every sin including my uncontrolled anger was a decision, even though a quick one. After that correction, the Holy Spirit helped me make decisions to remain calm or just walk away.

An often referred to maxim says don’t make decisions based on temporary emotions or temporary conditions. A common excuse is “I just wasn’t thinking”. So, think; on what are you basing your decision, what motives are behind the decision, and what are the consequences of your decision? Make sure you don’t base your biblical belief system on what ‘so and so’ said but ground it on ‘this is what the Word of God says’. 

Sustaining Word for the Week: The decisions are yours. Consider the facts, what the Bible says, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

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It’s Just a Shadow

Posted on January 14, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

She’s friendly, loving, intelligent, and extremely protective. Keita is our two-year-old rottweiler. Despite three times through professional training she is the most stubborn dog we’ve ever owned. One of her quirks we have not conquered, she decided we needed protection from shadows. Our living room is an A-frame and the smallest lamp makes a large shadow on the inclined ceiling. Keita goes into a hyper-protective mode when we stand up and she sees our moving image. She jumps around and barks like we’re being attacked by a bear. We are at a loss of how to convince her our shadows present no danger—it’s just a shadow.

Scripture uses the word shadow 52 times. The most beloved example, common at funerals, is Psalms 23:4, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me. A shadow is merely a dark figure or image cast on the ground or some surface when something blocks the light and is usually shaped like the object blocking it. Numerous expressions exist in society: afraid of own her shadow, without a shadow of doubt, under the shadow of old sins, he cast a big shadow, living in the shadow of someone, etc. Psychologist label someone afraid of shadows with Sciophobia (sci—shadow; phobia—fear). A field of art has developed around shadows from images for children made with one’s hand, all the way to displays in museums of elaborate scenes from ordinary objects. Plato built an entire philosophy around his belief we are only shadows of our reality. Satan utilized shadows to bring fear to believers.

David grew up as a shepherd caring for his father’s sheep. He understood the dangers and how to protect them. When relocating sheep to a new grazing area, he often had to lead them through valleys and narrow gorges with lofty sides or ravines overhung by high precipitous cliffs. Darkness and shadows abounded. David knew the route and that the shadows presented no threat, but the sheep perceived them as a danger—like my dog. They could only trust their shepherd. David begins this Psalms the Lord is my shepherd [Yahweh-roah](v1). He reflects on his experience applying that to how well God shepherds his people. Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11). The bible compares us to sheep, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psa 100:3). Seeing the people . . . like sheep without a shepherd (Mat 9:36). The latter part of verse 11 expresses His love as the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 

Wednesday afternoon with my research and meditation for this SW complete, I was ready to write. Little did I know how applicable this would become in a few moments. My wife came into my office struggling to get her words out. Several months ago, she began experiencing migraine headaches for the first time in her life. After much effort on her part, I figured out she was telling me this was the worse headache ever. She was confused and made little sense. I gasp when I took her blood pressure; it was 198/120. Then she started having chest pains. You can only imagine what was going through my mind. Was my wife of almost 48 years having a stroke, a heart attack? As I rushed her to the hospital, far more pronounced than my concerns, the Holy Spirit quietly whispered over and over, “It is only a shadow”. The doctor performed numerous tests, but the results confounded him because everything came back normal. I continued hearing, “It’s only a shadow”. After more test and an overnight in the hospital, they concluded that her family doctor had changed her BP medicine to something that wasn’t working. With a new prescription, I brought her home. Today, she is tired but resting in her chair watching a movie without a headache.

The devil had cast a frightening shadow. But God’s Word helped us through. Note two lessons David gives us in this verse. He wrote valley of the shadow of death not the valley of death. The next verse lets us know it wasn’t the end of the journey. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows (Psa 23:5). Second assurance, he wrote through the valley. Through means there is a place to enter and a place to exit. It is a valley not a dead-end canyon. “Sheep go through these places to get to some better place” (Philip Keller)! Shadows have no substance and are nothing more than inanimate images. Charles Spurgeon said, “But [a] shadow cannot harm us any more than a dog’s shadow can bite, or the shadow of a sword can wound.”

The devil is a shadow artist making the biggest and scariest shadows he can and the entire time shouting, “He’s left you and you are all alone. You’ll never get out of this place.” The Word tell us even in the deepest and darkest valley we are never alone. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb 13:5). If I go down to the grave, you are there (Ps 139:8). Jesus has not only been through the valley of the shadow of death, He has been through the valley of death and came out alive forever.

Sustaining Word for the Week: Are you in a dark valley, it is only a shadow. He’s leading you to a better place. Even if you are facing physical death, He’s been through that valley; He is with you and knows the way.

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