We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

Are you taking "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ?" I read this verse recently and I must admit that it was slightly (actually greatly) convicting.

I try to live my life for Christ. Keep in mind, I am not trying to boast. I have nothing to boast about except that Jesus loves me, but I need to make this personal in order to illustrate the lesson the Lord is teaching me here. I am a tither. Actually my wife an I give well over a tithe every year. While preparing for our taxes this year, my wife noticed that our personal income actually decreased a bit this year, but our giving increased. We tithe, plus give an offering to our church, as well as give to almost a dozen other charities and ministries. God has blessed us and we feel an obligation to give back.

Several years ago I sensed the Lord saying that it was not enough for me to tithe my money. I needed to tithe my time as well. I began to add up the hours I have during the week. With twenty four hours in a day, and seven days in a week, according to my math that means there are 168 hours out of which I would need to tithe in time spent serving the Lord. I count the time I spend in Bible study and prayer. I count the time I spend doing these thoughts and answering replies to them. I count the time I spend preparing to teach and teaching my Sunday School class and the radio program I co-host. And I count the time I spend in the worship services of my church. I have 151 hours a week to do what I want to do (as long as it still honors Christ), but 17 hours of my week belong to the Lord. (I feel that I need to say again, I am not trying to brag. I am illustrating.)

The point is this: I am serving the Lord. I am a faithful steward of my time and resources. Yet, when I think about this verse, I am not completely fulfilling it in my life. I am not taking "captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ". I work hard for Christ. I serve Him faithfully. I love Him with all my heart, but there are still thoughts in my life that certainly are not obedient to Christ!

What about you? Do you have thoughts that tend to be worries? Do you labor in thought over the trials in your life? Do you wrestle with impure thoughts...lusts, temptations, greed? Do you think thoughts of anger, hate, envy, or jealousy? A better question to ask yourself may be, is Christ honored in ALL your thought life? Are there thoughts in your mind that He just couldn't be a part of?

I'm not there yet, but I want to be. Won't you join me in asking God that He make our thought life captive to the glory and honor of Christ?

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