Transcript:

Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.

If we are going to thrive spiritually in troubled times, we must make it our aim to be driven by truth and not mere emotions.

One of the primary commands of the Christian life is Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2).

This means much of the Christian life is a war that is waged from the neck up—a fight for the ideas that drive our deepest thoughts. The Scriptures command us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Now, winning this battle is more easily said than done. It doesn’t just happen with the flip of a switch. Rather, it requires the nurture of a whole new way of thinking and living. It is a day-by-day fight—a moment-by-moment discipline to reprogram the thoughts and intentions of our hearts according to the Word of God.

The wise old saying goes:

“Sow a thought and you reap an act; sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Said another way, you practice what you ponder, and then you perfect what you practice.

Now, this is a path goes both directions—one way leads to life and other to death. And God promises that those who drive their thoughts toward the truth of the Gospel will be transformed into the character of Christ, which is the way of life.

Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

~ Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)