Captive To Christ
It is normal to feel a tension between following Jesus and living in the world. While we live in the world, we do not live as the world lives.
“The Lord our God made a covenant with us...“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery...You shall have no other gods before me...You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below...You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God...Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy... Honor your father and your mother...You shall not murder...You shall not commit adultery...You shall not steal...You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor...You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor...Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you...Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”
Deuteronomy 5:2, 6-8, 11-12, 16-21, 24, 27, 29, 32-33
The ten commandments are well known. For many years that they have been posted in church buildings and public places. How often do you think about the ten commandments and more importantly why God gave them to His people? The text in this passage says that God gave them first out of covenant relationship and second so that it might go well with the ones He loves. Why did God give the commandments? Was it not because the people were not living according to the commandments? God was telling people to change their ways from the ways of the world.
We live in a performance-based culture that naturally measures performance against peers or expectations. The ten commandments can turn into a checklist of to dos and not to dos. Have you ever thought to yourself I don't steal or murder, or do the really bad ones so I am good enough? This worldly approach completely misses the bigger relational picture of why God gives us His commands. This approach can paint God like a distant cosmic judge waiting to give you a grade for how well you did. Our Heavenly Father wants to teach us that He wants what's best for us and is actively guiding us to a kingdom life. Have you turned the commandments into a checklist? How does it change how you feel about what is being said if you choose to look at the commandments as loving guidance to draw you closer to your spiritual Father?
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”
Psalms 8:1, 3-5
Can you picture David standing in the open desert gazing up at an uncountable number of stars on a clear night asking these questions? Something special happens when we look up and change our perspective. Life can so easily become routined and we can fall into patterns where we start just thinking about our own to do lists or every day needs. It is good to step back like David and stand in awe.
What is mankind that God is mindful of them? David asks God, why do you care about us? Why do you bless us with such abundance when you have all that you have and can do all that you can do? David is amazed by the love of God and overwhelmed that God would care so personally for Him. Have you ever asked yourself why God cares? The enemy of your life wants you to question if God cares about you of whether you are worthy. The bible shows God chooses you and wants to show you, not if, but how much He cares. The bible teaches us how to take the thoughts captive that are not true. God is Spirit and Truth. It is important that we live in the truth of God's word and the truth is He calls you by name.
“My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.”
Proverbs 5:1-2, 15, 21-23
Two things stand out when reading Proverbs five particularly in light of the ten commandments. Solomon reiterates the importance of avoiding a life of envy. The ten commandments say don't envy your neighbor or his belongings. Why is that so important to God and for us to learn? What happens when your mindset is focused on what other people have? How does that affect your heart?
Have you found yourself wanting anything you do not have that you have seen others possess? Envy has a ruthless way of harming relationships and creating offense in our hearts. Envy does not thank God for what He has provided. Envy says why don't you love me enough to give me what I do not have. Envy is poisons the very wells we drink from each day.
The second teaching from the wisdom of Solomon that emerges from this text is the importance of discipline in living a life that aligns with God's will. You have to have discipline to be a disciple. If God says it is good to do something and not good to do something else, discipline is the decision that keeps you on the right path. God is examining your path not so that He can make you feel bad. God examines the path of each of us to see where He can help us, guide us, and protect us. Discipline is part of God's divine plan to keep you close to Him. Where could you use more discipline in your life?
“I will treat you in accordance with the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you. You boasted against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom."
Ezekiel 35:11, 13-15
The golden rule has aged well and continues to be applicable to our lives. Treat others as you want to be treated. This is especially true when someone is vulnerable, has fallen short, or needs help. When looking at how the foreign kings had treated the Israelites, God was not pleased. He saw that they had mistreated them, arrogantly spoken against God, and done to others what they would not wanted done to themselves. Pride came before their fall.
God is a God of compassion. He expects people to be the same. We are called to have compassion on both the people we like and the people who have been unkind to us. Jesus said we are to feed and give drink to the people who act as enemies to us. God says in this passage that the foreigners are going to be treated as they treated others. They dug a pit and they are going to fall into that very pit. This passage is a perfect example of why people should listen to God's advice on how to live with intentionality. Hurt people hurt people and often are hurt further. Violent people are violent and often experience the consequences of violence. God is a just God and justice will be done. What can you learn from this about how you could respond to the people you know if your life? Is there anyone who has been difficult or offense that you would do well to listen to God's voice and seek forgiveness or reconciliation?
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 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. 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...Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 10:1, 3-5, 16-18
Jesus constantly invited people to change the way they think. Paul is saying the same thing here. Change the way you think. Repent. Consider. Evaluate the ways of the world and realize the world's ways are not kingdom ways. Paul says don't live like everyone around you. This is the same message that we see in the ten commandments. God said don't live like the world around you, here is some guidance for how to best nurture relationship and reflect Me.
Do you realize the power of Paul's advice to take every thought captive? This advice could transform relationships. This truth could change how you see yourself and see God. Paul does not say don't have negative thoughts or fearful thoughts. He does not say do not worry or be anxious. He does not say don't get angry or frustrated. Paul says take every thought, all of the things you are thinking, captive like a prisoner.
Paul is teaching us emotional intelligence. He is teaching us how to label and process our thoughts so that we can stay close to Jesus. What would happen if the next time you were afraid or angry, you paused, brought that thought before Jesus, then listened to the voice of truth about how to best reflect Jesus in your response? Would fights and conflicts not be drastically reduced? Would you like to get rid of fear, offense, and bitterness? Take every thought captive.
Let your only boasting, be boasting about the Lord. Imagine what would happen in your life if you lived with greater discipline in following the commands of your Lord and Savior thereby allowing yourself to draw close to the very source of love in your life, Jesus Christ, then took every thought captive and only when you have given all thoughts fully to Jesus' control then boasted with gratitude about all that God has done. How would that change how you think, how you feel, how you talk, and ultimately how you live. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who like our Heavenly Father wants to guide us through His care and His commands to the kingdom life. Will you consider the Amazing Grace of God and respond with a heart that is awe of the God who made all things who personally desires to help life go well for you?