Every word and deed a human says or does begins in the mind with a thought. Whether the thought is immediately rejected, is entertained temporarily then rejected, or is embraced and turned into words or deeds depends solely upon the attitude of the thinker. Thoughts are either good or bad, as are words and deeds.  Sin is the result of an ungodly thought being harbored, embraced and allowed to come to fruition in the form of words or deeds or both. Concerning temptation and the evil it can cause, the Apostle James wrote, “a man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own (evil) thought and enticed (by embracing the thought). When the thought has conceived (been mentally acted upon) it brings forth sin (the saying or doing of the original thought). Sin then brings forth death” (1:15). For this reason we must “force out of our minds every thought that is contrary to God’s Word/will. We must take every thought captive (to the will of God) as did Jesus” (2 Cor. 10:5). We must rid ourselves of a bad thought immediately. The longer a thought lingers the harder it is to expel. This is the principle that makes pornography so addictive.–the more we see, the deeper the images are embedded in our brains, the more we want to see ….

The same holds true for God’s Word. The Truth-hungry seeker will “study to show yourself approved by God.” His approval comes only when we believe and obey His Word. We ” must live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Those who fill their minds with His Words eventually become those Words in human form. His Words are then manifested in their words and acts.

In summary, God commands that we render ourselves unto Him in totality, that we humbly submit to His will (Word) with no thought as to our own will. Those who obey Him eventually find their will totally immersed in His will. Then they can say with Jesus, “Not My will, or Lord, but thine.” Only when we have reached this spiritual point are we rendering unto God what we owe Him. We are indeed bought with a price. The “cost” we recipients of Christ’s death must pay is total death to self so that He can live His life in us. To affect this the old man (the “self”) must die. “Old things must pass away, behold, all things must become new.” The totality of our selves, our being and our existence is the debt we owe God. The Apostle Paul recognized this the moment he met Christ on the road to Damascus. As he lay in the dust staring at the dazzling being before him the future apostle voiced the perfect response to meeting His Messiah, “What would you have me do, Lord.” Let us ask that question, then obey what He tells us in His Holy Bible. By doing so we, like Jesus of Nazareth, become His Words made flesh. Those who are so transformed will join Him in His Father’s kingdom upon His return to earth. L.J.