As we resume our walk through 2 Peter, we pick up at verse 1 of Chapter 3. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter writes:
“Dear Friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through
your Apostles.” 2 Peter 3: 1,2.
Peter said he wanted to stimulate us to wholesome thinking, because he knew this is what we need to bring about a consistent wholesome life. As we look at the meaning of ‘wholesome’, we are told it means “promoting good health or well being. improving the mind or character. It brings soundness.”
Without question a great way to live, and grow in body, soul, and spirit.
However, this is easier said than done. We have many things that can capture our thoughts as we travel on. We live in a world that the evil one has loaded with temptations. Some things we see, and hear, can take our thoughts into places that are far from where we want to be. Obviously those thoughts are not from the Lord.
James wrote: “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:13-15. As we see, from a destructive thought – destructive action can come if we don’t capture it.
We all are exposed to temptation. That is part of living in this world. And be assured there is a war going on for our thoughts. The Apostle Paul wrote: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 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 Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
When Paul speaks of the strongholds, he is speaking of the strongholds our thoughts might have on us. Many suffer from anxiety, and stress, bad irrational behavior, depression, and other illness because of the way their wrong thoughts and habits control them. He says we can demolish them because we have been given divine power to do so. That power comes from believing the written Word, which tells us that Christ has delivered us when we do believe. By being born again, the Holy Spirit has made us One with Him. There is divine power in us through Him.
The command Peter speaks of that was given by the Lord is this: “Love each other.” John 15:17 When we love each other it will ultimately lead to wholesome thinking, and all that wholesome love brings about.
Let us be careful to never judge what is wholesome or not wholesome in appearance. Loving, and doing good for those in need be it physical or mental, or spiritual is clearly good and wholesome. But, I have a friend that works with the Strip Club scene. She takes cookies and The Gospel, and a listening ear to those in the Clubs. Some might think of this as not a wholesome place to go to as a Christian Lady, but you should hear the testimony of how the Lord is using her, and the Team she has assembled to touch so many troubled lives. That is love in action. That is Christ Jesus in action through her, and her Team. That is a result of wholesome thinking.
May we be blessed with the truth of the Word, my Friends. May we be encouraged, and strengthened, and comforted and stimulated in it.
May Grace, peace, mercy, health, and prosperity be ours in abundance; body, soul, and spirit, God’s Beloveds.
You are greatly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. Think on these things.
Poppa B.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, On Line