Colossians 3:2-3 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with CHRIST in GOD!
“No”-ing More!
I “No!” so little!
Instead stating “Yes!”,
thus found are Sin’s chains
and boundless Distress!
When I should have stood,
instead my steps turned…
like those of a fool —
rejecting HIS WORD!
Then following quicksand
my feet became lodged!
Stuck in Sin’s quagmire
and then came my GOD…
WHOSE love lifted me!
WHO freed this lost Stray!
Reteaching me TRUTH from
WHOM I’d walked away!
Now I “No” much more
and save “Yes!” for CHRIST
so that found in HIS steps…
“I AM!” then — leads this life!
As HIServant bent on knowing more of CHRIST,
Whitney
Devotional: 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of CHRIST…”
There’s an old saying that sums up the title of this poem. “Whatever you say “Yes!” to means you’re saying “No!” to something else.”
How true regarding the endless waterfall of thoughts! It’s not prioritization as much as it should be elimination.
Easier thought than said or done though, yes? So we must practice “No-ing more” by knowing more of CHRIST.
We must rather emphatically shout “Yes!” to HIM and “things above”…versus the off course rabbit trails of “all else”.
2 Timothy 2:15 is well known but often misunderstood. I’m quoting from the Aramaic Bible in Plain English version as such.
“And take care of yourself, that you present yourself perfectly before GOD, a laborer without shame, who preaches the word of truth straightforwardly.”
HOW is this possible? Perfectly? ONLY through CHRIST’s shed blood! But that’s not the main point of this page.
We ARE perfect before GOD because of CHRIST’s finished work. As such, we ARE without shame!
The first four words of this verse are in contrast to the traditional translations — in my opinion.
“Take care of yourself” says to me to not beat ourselves up due to the insufficiency of the flesh nor is it by any means a free pass to not press in closer to CHRIST.
It is a statement that we are HIS, that HIS crimson bought grace is sufficient payment for all our sins, past, present and future.
So say “No!” to those freely roaming thoughts which mislead and cause us to stray. Whether momentarily or longer!
Lastly we look at 2 Timothy 2:22-25. “Flee also youthful lusts (Thoughts/Interests); but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the LORD must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if GOD perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth…”
So we are to pursue things above, Heavenly interests, the Fruits of the SPIRIT, and avoid the thoughts, words and deeds of arguing which only creates more of the same.
Be humble then KNOWING WHO called you to HIMSELF! As we close looking at verse 25, we see a key phrase. “…perhaps GOD will grant them repentance…”
That’s the gift GOD gave Paul on the road to Damascus and many of us when we were unleashing every thought of the Flesh.
HE took us captive in HIS love and we are HIS…for eternity!
Hallelujah! Come quickly, LORD!
Amen and amen!
2CJC 