1 Think Before

Think Before (by Bill Stevenson, October 6, 2004 While waiting in a doctor’s office, a wonderful understanding came to me. For about 2 months, I have been thinking about how a true Christian should be able to discern thoughts that come to his or her mind before acting on them. But two surgeries interrupted me from developing the Bible study and essay. This morning, I received the final concept for it. My mother used to say, “Taste the words before they come out of your mind”. I also remember, “If you are angry, count ten seconds (one-a-thousand, two-a-thousand, three-a-thousand, etc.) before responding.” Have you heard the saying, “Haste usually makes waste”? Also, assuming things about others or a situation can get us in trouble too. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 guarantee and how does it relate to the Holy Spirit? One of the major purposes of the Bible is to show God’s wonderful love via the reports of His wonderful works and miracles. It was manifested in human form by His only Begotten Son, Who had to die and pay the death penalty for breaking God’s Law. (See John 3:16-17 and Isaiah 53) God’s unselfish, forever love is supposed to be in true Christians because it is the main “fruit of the Spirit”. (See Galatians 22-26) All of the spokesmen for God in the Bible basically said, “Repent”. That requires confession of wrong and choosing to eliminate bad habits and replacing them with good habits which lead to increasing Christ-likeness-- sanctification. 1 John 1:9 and Romans 14:17 indicate that a true Christian should confess wrong as the Holy Spirit and the Bible urges, accept God’s forgiveness and Holy Spirit-led cleansing towards righteousness, and then God gives him or her wonderful peace and joy feelings-- the Kingdom of God for now. Haven’t you felt peace or/and joy when you confess a mistake to someone you said or did wrong to? So what does the above have to do with knowing what to say or do when thoughts come to our minds. Go back to what my mother said about tasting words before they come out of the mouth. When one is building a house, he or she uses a plumb line or leveler to determine straightness. We should use our knowledge of Scripture (especially the New Testament) to test whatever thoughts come to mind before we act. The following tests for each thought came to my mind this morning: It could be the tough love forms in Biblical warning, exhortation, or rebuke. What will the thought said or done possibly result in? Does the thought indicate God’s special unselfish and compassionate love? If said or done, will it persuade the recipient(s) to praise God more or will it possible result in peace or/and joy? But peace achieved by compromising convictions is wrong and the joy just mentioned is the result from unselfish actions and is different than secular happiness due to others’ words or/and actions. Therefore, the key words for this thought testing are love, peace, and joy. If a thought does not pass the above indicated tests in relation to those three words, then no statements or actions should be done and the thought should be completely rejected. The Holy Spirit will never give thoughts that don’t pass those tests; thoughts from selfishness and the spiritual enemies will not pass those tests. So take time to think before you respond to any thought that comes to your mind. It won’t take very long. Most of the time a Biblical concept should come to mind immediately. If it doesn’t in your life, do my Bible study courses; they will give you many of the Biblical concepts which please God.