June 2, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

June 2

Luke 7:7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

Abraham Lincoln once said of another man, “That man is the most able man that that man knows.”  Of course, he is saying that the man of whom he was speaking thought so highly of himself that he believed he was more able than any other man. This little saying has helped me numerous times in life. Not only has it allowed me to understand that some people think they are better than anyone else at everything, it also has helped me by reminding myself not to become like that man.

A person may be very able, very intelligent, very personable, very rich, and very wise, but there are always people more able, more intelligent, more likeable, richer, and wiser. The trick is to identify those people and learn from them, honor them, respect them, and sometimes follow them. The man who is quoted in today’s verse was the kind of man who knew his betters when he came upon them. If you read the complete story (verses 1-10) you will learn that this Centurion (a Roman officer with responsibility for 100 men) must have been a great man. He cared for his servants. He had the respect of the Jewish leaders that he sent to Jesus. He loved Israel. The Jewish leaders said he was worthy of Jesus’ attention. He had built the Jews a synagogue, and Jesus said he had not found the type of faith the Centurion had anywhere in Israel. Yet, with all this greatness the Centurion thought that he was not worthy to even approach Jesus.

Some have an inferiority complex which causes them to think they are never worthy of anything, others have a superiority complex which causes them to think they are always worthy of everything. The proper, healthy, and only realistic mindset is somewhere in between these two extremes. On occasion we are to think that we are not worthy and on other occasions we are to think that we are most worthy. The difference is the occasion and the company in which we find ourselves. The Centurion was a great man who was worthy, yet he humbled himself in his thinking when compared to the worthiness of Christ. When a great person can humble themselves in their thoughts, their greatness is increased. Even Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to the cross. These two, the Centurion and Christ, are wonderful examples of humbleness of thought.

May the Lord bless and be pleased with your thought life today.

Dr. William T. Howe