2 Corinthians 10:5b says “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ”

“Captivity” seems like such a negative word and “Freedom” such a good word.  Such a very “American” word is Freedom.  We love that word.

But sometimes, when it comes to thoughts and actions, “freedom” at what cost and “captivity” for what purpose?

When we allow our thoughts to run in “freedom”, then danger is just down the road.

James taught us that Tempation is the conception place for sin.  Temptation begins wtih a look, then a thought, then a possibility, then an action and eventually the result that James says is always death.

So it goes back to a thought by thought discipline.  We need the discipline to take each thought and bring it under the discipleship of Jesus Christ.  We need to take into captivity every thought, good or bad, and make it obedient to truth and to life.  Do you have the vision to see the end potential for the thought that has entered your heart?  This takes discipline, foresight, and a vision for the future.

When the idea springs into my thoughts, I have to ask “where does this lead?”  “How will it affect me?”  “How will this affect my personal, spiritual, and relational health?”  I need to ask “How will this affect the advancement of the Kingdom?  Does it have an impact on those with whom I serve in ministry?”

taking captive every thought gives me the opportunity to examine the thought, intent, motives, and be sure that it reflects Christ, his love, his character, and his eternal purposes.

When I take that thought captive and don’t let it simply run free, then 2 Corinthians 10:5a says that I demolish arguments, and pretension that sets up against the knowledge of God.  Have you ever jumped into a defensive argument before your thought about it, only to realize that you are defending an undefensible position?  Take Captive Every Thought

Have you ever deceived yourself into believing something that isn’t true and gone long down the path to destruction following a faulty assumption?  Take Captive Every Thought

Relationships are too important to not take every thought captive

The Eternal work of the Kingom is too important to not take captive every thought.

The will of God is that all who are known by him be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, so take captive every thought and be sure that it will advance you in the image of Jesus.  So when the thought comes, ask, “who does that thought make you look like?  Jesus?  Or the Enemy everything Holy?

Remember Jesus said that “the thief”  comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  He is out to destroy us and everythought that is not obedient to Christ will have the purpose of destruction.  So, take into captivity everything thought, put it under God’s discipline and see if it has a thieving, deadly, destructive nature, and if so, then do not let it out of captivity.

Jesus continued, in John 10:10 that HE came to give us abundant life.  So, when I take my thoughts, ideas, desires into captivity, the only ones I allow to run free are the ones that bring life, abundant life.

Be disciplined and take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.