What’s On Your Mind?
Ryan Duncan. Editor at TheFish.com
“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20
Back when I was still attending school, one of my closest friends was a boy I’ll call Jason. I was a pretty shy, quiet kid at the time, so I was very grateful to have a friend like Jason, who was loud and very social, to hang around with. Then one day, Jason began hanging out with another boy from our class named Al. Al was the type of person who loved to tell crude jokes, swore freely when he talked, and openly boasted about watching pornography. I could barely stand to be around him, but Jason got along great with him, and since he was my friend, I put up with it.
Over time though, I began to notice subtle changes in Jason. He developed a foul mouth, and started making suggestive comments whenever girls were around. In short, he started becoming a lot like Al. Thankfully, Jason and Al eventually went their separate ways and my friend returned to normal, but I’ve never forgotten how easily he was changed. In the book of Philippians, Paul writes,
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8-9
Paul wasn’t trying to be quirky when he wrote this section of his letter. On the contrary, I believe he was giving the Philippians some very serious advice. You see, whatever rules our hearts and minds will eventually change who we are. When we put Christ at the center of our thoughts, we gradually become the type of person he made us to be. But when we let the immorality of our culture, or our own selfishness take control, we become the type of person the world has shaped us to be.
God made us to be glorious reflections of Himself. Are your heart and mind reflecting Him?
Intersecting Faith and Life
Have your thoughts been focused on things unworthy of Christ? Take some time to consider your mindset.
Further Reading
Proverbs 12:26