Week Twenty-four

Written By Melissa Rightmire

A friend of mine and I were talking about how hard it is to learn to take every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). All of humanity is up against arguments and pretensions from this world that set themselves up against us knowing God. People who don’t yet know God don’t understand that this is the case. But once we know then we have to learn to live in the light of His Presence and His upside down kingdom way of living.

We are told in the scripture that our weapons are not of this world. Our weapons are “truthful speech . . . the power of God . . .and righteousness in the right hand and in the left” (2 Corinthians 6:7). It takes a lot to learn this way of fighting for our thoughts. How are we to know what truth is? How do we live in the power of God? How do we hold onto righteousness with both our hands and all of our strength?

The answer is simple but not necessarily easy. Yet, if you are reading this and have been following along as we read the New Testament in six months, you are well into your course of training in spiritual warfare and learning what it means to take your thoughts captive. You are in the Word of God regularly — most likely daily.

It’s not that reading the Bible in and of itself is the answer. But reading the Bible is how we learn what real truth is. It’s how we know what the power of God looks and feels like. It is how we learn what righteousness is in the sight of God. It is how we know what God thinks, what He loves, what He hates, and the length that He was willing to go to redeem everyone.

When we read the Bible with a heart ready to abide in the Word and it in us, then it will shape us. Over time we begin to be molded and fashioned to look and live like Jesus. We understand truth, and because of that we recognize lies earlier and earlier and can stand against them. We know the power of God when He is upon us or someone else and we know how to respond. We know what is right in the eyes of God and our relationships are built on the foundation of the love of Christ.

Yet, it takes more than reading the Bible and abiding in His Word. It’s also important to recognize that there are now millions who have gone before us and who have shown us the way. And if we do our part as disciples and disciple makers in this massive Jesus movement there will be others who look to us to show them the way.

This week’s reading has a keen understanding of the importance of the prophets and apostles of old, their place and ours in history. Every letter references those who by faith pioneered the path forward and yet never saw the Messiah they eagerly awaited. Imagine the battle of the mind when the promises you personally received from God are not seen by you, yet somehow you realize that generations from now that promise will be manifested in the flesh. They knew, and we must know, every step forward taken in faith lays the path for people not yet born.

According to scripture, our faith journey is important because it is part of a much larger story. Each one of us plays an essential part. That’s why, as hard as it is, we must learn to take captive every thought to Christ. Because every thought becomes an action, and every action has the opportunity to reveal who Jesus is to someone who is fighting a battle not only in their mind but for their life. Eternal life. Whether that is recognized or not.

As you read this week, consider that you are joining . . .

. . . a great cloud of witnesses . . .thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly . . . those whose names are written in heaven. . . the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. . . the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come. Those to whom it was revealed — that they were not serving themselves but you.

Theirs is the prophetic message that is “completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

This week, may you “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18

You can write a comment below, or reach me, Melissa, at mrightmire@crnaz.com . Thank you for traveling with me on this journey through the New Testament.

Below are the readings for week 24:

Melissa Rightmire
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Week Twenty-three