After Ricky had refilled our coffee cups and taken our breakfast orders one morning, Stan mentioned that he would like to talk about how to avoid being taken captive. Since I really had no idea what he meant, I asked, “What’s on your mind about being taken captive?”
“Two things,” he replied. “I saw them both earlier this morning in my journaling time. One is about me being taken captive; the other is about what God wants me to take captive.”
“You being taken captive? By what?”
“The world,” Stan replied. “The apostle Paul warned about that in his letter to the Colossians.”
“But beyond that,” he continued, “Paul also gave instructions as to what I’m to take captive.”
“Something you’re to take captive? What’s that?”
“Every thought,” Stan replied with a smile. “I’m to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. If I do that, I won’t be taken captive by the world!”
_______________________________
Bible verses to consider:
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8
. . . we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life eternally with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I’m taken captive by the world when I fail to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ so I am not taken captive by the world. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you no longer captive to the world in the sense you have accepted God’s provision of life eternally with Him beginning now and continuing forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ so you are not taken captive by the world? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?
The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need so you in fact take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and are not taken captive by the world? Spend time on this in prayer, reflection, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!
Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?