Abandon Your Thoughts

Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways."[This is] the Lord's declaration. "For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:7-9 HCSB

I once worked for a man who claimed that mayonnaise was wonderful for you while mustard was crammed to the hilt with fat. When we brought in a jar of each and showed him the labels stating the opposite he simply shrugged his shoulders and petulantly replied “You don’t think they’re gonna tell you the truth, do you?”

The same man insisted that metal plumb bobs could not be used between ten in the morning and one in the afternoon because “the earth’s magnetic stuff flips during that time.”

One day, in order to establish a line parallel to a wall, he measured a four foot distance by dropping a stone off the end of a four foot level twice. He then stretched a line between the two points and when he discovered that the surveyor’s marker didn’t match his rigorous, scientific method he dug up and moved the surveyor’s marker!

I can pretty confidently state that the man was a fool. The Teacher explained that it is a mark of wisdom to be glad to be instructed.[1] In fact, intelligent people actually go looking for ideas![2] The only way to find our place among the wise is to listen to constructive criticism[3] and by it grow in understanding.

The truth of the matter is that we are all equally foolish from time to time. God tells us that honoring our parents leads to a long satisfying life[4], but we insist on focusing on their mistakes. God commands us to faithfully worship with other Christians, and try to be a blessing and encouragement to them.[5] But we insist that church is about us and only go when we feel like it.

We need to be willing to abandon our sinful thought patterns and conform them to the Master’s.[6] After all, He’s been around a while – He might know a thing or two!


[1] Proverbs 10:8, 14; 15:2
[2] Proverbs 15:14; 18:15
[3] Proverbs 12:15; 15:31-32
[4] Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Ephesians 6:1-3
[5] Hebrews 10:23-25
[6] 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Philippians 2:5