“Didn’t Think”
Didn’t Think.—When reminded of the performance of some misdeed which comes very naturally to us, we are prone to excuse ourselves with the statement, “I didn’t think.” That is a mistake. True, we did not think of the right thing; but our performance of the deed was due to the fact that our thoughts were unconsciously running in that channel. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12:34. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Prov. 23:7. If a man did not think evil, he would not do evil. No man ever yet committed a sin that he had never thought about.
Right Thoughts.—But we cannot cease thinking. God does not wish us to, for He has given us brains with which to think. The secret of right doing is right thinking. If we could always think of the right, we should never do the wrong. But how shall we think of that which is right?—Here is the answer that the Lord gives: “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.” Heb. 8:10. The holy, just, and good law of God in the mind will insure our thinking upon “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report.” And with these thoughts in the mind, the actions will correspond.
Controlling the Thoughts.—“It is easy enough to say that if we had right thoughts we should act rightly; but that is only putting the difficulty one step farther back; how can we think of what we ought?” The promise in the new covenant tells us, “I will put My laws in their mind,” says the Lord. He alone can do it. Give Him the ordering of your ways, and He will give you right thoughts. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Prov. 16:3. The Spirit of God can do that which is impossible for man. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4, 5.