Devotional though for 12/5/08

Taken from "Salvation Army Orders and Regulations for Soldiers, 1950"

Are my thoughts and feelings such that I wouldn't be ashamed to hear them published before God?

The answer to that question is "No." Even if I'm not indulging lustful thoughts, or hatching unwholesome schemes, my noggin seems to be a factory for producing petty, trivial and embarrassing notions. I would have a lot to be ashamed of if transcripts were available upon request.

And it would be very easy to shrug this off, to say that some mental discipline is necessary, but a mind that takes "every thought captive" is not possible. But the truth is that I will never act much better than I think. I can not be vicious in my mind and kind in my actions. I can not be suspicious in my thoughts and generous in my gestures. I can not think highly of myself in private and put others first in practice. And even if I could manage to act better than I think, that would not be a moral accomplishment. That would be the definition of hypocrisy.

So resolve today to at least slip a leash over the neck of your mind and begin some obedience training.

Philip. 4:8 (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.