Today we are exploring our thoughts in the teaching found at the end of this episode. The teaching is entitled, "Thoughts" and is from my book, A Course in Christianity. But before that short teaching, I share "When They Ring Those Golden Bells" as a poem and then my song, "Come Unto Me." Enjoy!
If Jesus were standing near your mind, watching your thoughts as they marched by, what would He think? Let me answer. He would be in a constant state of forgiveness saying, "Forgive him, God, he has no idea what he is doing." Of course, this is what He said on the cross as He was dying for our sins. Jesus forgives sin. That is what He does. He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. He asks us to "follow Him" and therefore we, too, are to forgive the carnal activities of the world. And we are to watch our thoughts as if Jesus, Himself, were standing at our mind's gateway, observing them with us.
Imagine a volcano. It doesn't just immediately spew volcanic ash and lava. It had to build up first then it began spewing forth those things. So, too, does our mind work that way. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Our thoughts build up, one on top of the other, building the mountain until a steady stream of carnal world thoughts shower the land. Why are we surprised that our thoughts are so unruly? So carnal? Why is a part of us ashamed to think that Jesus may be standing at the edge of our mind, observing the passing of these thoughts? Do we need to be a victim of our thoughts?
No. We need to recognize the whole picture. The thoughts that flow from our minds and ultimately our mouths, stem from the accumulation of thoughts we have allowed to build up (like a volcano builds up). What can we do about thoughts that escape from our mind if we have decided we don't want to be ashamed of them any longer? How can we make Jesus say, "Well done, faithful servant"?
Take control of your thinking now. Do not allow the worldly, carnal activity all around you to influence your thinking any longer. Take control as Paul commanded. Begin to build a new source of your thoughts.
Let your thoughts become like a geyser, like Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park. Let cleansing and purifying water gush from your mind and therefore, your mouth.
Cleansing thoughts that come from layer upon layer of cleansing thoughts, gushing from your mind and heart, cleansing and purifying the world.
Jesus would smile if He noticed those thoughts influencing your world. You would feel better, too. As I stated earlier, God created all of us to be unified as one family. Any decision any of us makes, influences others in ways we can't even imagine. God created us as one family. We followers of Christ have been adopted by Jesus and share His Godly nature with Him. Changing your thinking, one thought at a time, is a worthy endeavor. Hop to it.
I'd love to hear from you! email: vic@zarley.net
