THINK, WATCH, AND GO
I can remember being taught if I was ever on fire to - "Stop, Drop and Roll". I have a new one for you as a Christian - "Think, Watch and Go".
It seems more people do not stop to think about their upcoming words, action or thoughts now-a-days. This is not a new problem. Isaiah 44:19 documents it saying, "No one stops to think..." And even when the brain is working properly, the mind needs to be focused on the appropriate things.
In Romans 12:3 we read about how to think of yourself - "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." A chapter later readers scan something not to think about - "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." - Romans 13:14
Scripture encourages us to use our thoughts as a personal memorial to the time of God's Saving Grace. 1 Corinthians 1:26 says, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth." We are encouraged to remember the past, but not dwell there. Have a memorial thought life for the purpose of testimony to others.
What should our minds be full of? Things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - according to Philippians 4:8. And concerning evil things - be like a child, keep your innocence and stay away from it while having adult thoughts toward evil's dangers or consequences. 1 Corinthians 14:20 says it like this - "Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."
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As a Watcher in our Christian journey we should - watch for false prophets (Matt. 7:15), watch for deceivers (Matt. 24:4), watch out for all kinds of greed (Luke 12:15), watch yourselves and others, rebuking them when they sin against you and forgiving them when they repent (Luke 17:3), watch over yourselves and the flock (Acts 20:28), watch out for "those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way..." (Romans 16:17), watch your life and doctrine closely, and watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for..." (2 John 1:8).
However, during the watching/warnings amidst ourselves that the above verses submit for our consideration, we also should be watchful for our Hope! Matthew 24:42 encourages believers to watch for the day of the Lord's return. We read this again in Matthew 25:13. However, Luke adds a qualifying mark to the watching, he says, "It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes." - Luke 12:37 Whatever that "good" is that is to befall me, a "servant" and friend of God, then I purpose myself to watch for His return. And not only on certain days do I watch, but Luke stresses in 21:36 - "Be always on the watch..."
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So, we know what to think about. We know what and who to watch for. Now we simply need to Go. Mark 16:15 tells us what we should do and to me speaks of the kind of attitude we should take in doing it. The verse reads - "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
The command is one to action - Go. Traveling and Preaching the Good News of Christ are the actions. The world is our destination. There is no set location. Everyone needs to hear this wonderful news. Therefore we tell it to all creation. Yes, humanity has been redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb, but so has all of creation and one day believers will see the manifestation of that Redemption - so tell it to all creation!
In Matthew 28:18-20 there is a "therefore". Anytime you have a therefore, you have got to ask - what is it there for? Verse 19 begins, "Therefore go...", which means there is justification for the going and there is in the previous verse. In verse 18, Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." After hearing this and knowing this why wouldn't one desire to "go" and do anything after the word "go".
The rest of the passage reads - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Our responsibility to the nations?
As Christians, how saturated are we with Christ Jesus our God? I pray that we, as the body of believers, will quickly get consumed with His Presence daily. This is one passionate fire I desire to constantly overwhelm me. No stopping, dropping and rolling here. We need to Think (Godly), Watch (for God) And Go (for God).
It seems more people do not stop to think about their upcoming words, action or thoughts now-a-days. This is not a new problem. Isaiah 44:19 documents it saying, "No one stops to think..." And even when the brain is working properly, the mind needs to be focused on the appropriate things.
In Romans 12:3 we read about how to think of yourself - "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." A chapter later readers scan something not to think about - "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." - Romans 13:14
Scripture encourages us to use our thoughts as a personal memorial to the time of God's Saving Grace. 1 Corinthians 1:26 says, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth." We are encouraged to remember the past, but not dwell there. Have a memorial thought life for the purpose of testimony to others.
What should our minds be full of? Things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy - according to Philippians 4:8. And concerning evil things - be like a child, keep your innocence and stay away from it while having adult thoughts toward evil's dangers or consequences. 1 Corinthians 14:20 says it like this - "Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."
__________________________________________
As a Watcher in our Christian journey we should - watch for false prophets (Matt. 7:15), watch for deceivers (Matt. 24:4), watch out for all kinds of greed (Luke 12:15), watch yourselves and others, rebuking them when they sin against you and forgiving them when they repent (Luke 17:3), watch over yourselves and the flock (Acts 20:28), watch out for "those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way..." (Romans 16:17), watch your life and doctrine closely, and watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for..." (2 John 1:8).
However, during the watching/warnings amidst ourselves that the above verses submit for our consideration, we also should be watchful for our Hope! Matthew 24:42 encourages believers to watch for the day of the Lord's return. We read this again in Matthew 25:13. However, Luke adds a qualifying mark to the watching, he says, "It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes." - Luke 12:37 Whatever that "good" is that is to befall me, a "servant" and friend of God, then I purpose myself to watch for His return. And not only on certain days do I watch, but Luke stresses in 21:36 - "Be always on the watch..."
__________________________________________
So, we know what to think about. We know what and who to watch for. Now we simply need to Go. Mark 16:15 tells us what we should do and to me speaks of the kind of attitude we should take in doing it. The verse reads - "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."
The command is one to action - Go. Traveling and Preaching the Good News of Christ are the actions. The world is our destination. There is no set location. Everyone needs to hear this wonderful news. Therefore we tell it to all creation. Yes, humanity has been redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb, but so has all of creation and one day believers will see the manifestation of that Redemption - so tell it to all creation!
In Matthew 28:18-20 there is a "therefore". Anytime you have a therefore, you have got to ask - what is it there for? Verse 19 begins, "Therefore go...", which means there is justification for the going and there is in the previous verse. In verse 18, Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." After hearing this and knowing this why wouldn't one desire to "go" and do anything after the word "go".
The rest of the passage reads - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Our responsibility to the nations?
- Make disciples
- Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- Teach them everything Jesus commanded
As Christians, how saturated are we with Christ Jesus our God? I pray that we, as the body of believers, will quickly get consumed with His Presence daily. This is one passionate fire I desire to constantly overwhelm me. No stopping, dropping and rolling here. We need to Think (Godly), Watch (for God) And Go (for God).
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