May 22, 2025

Minding Your Thoughts

A Biblical Overview of Obtaining and Maintaining a Biblical Thought Life

Zechariah 8:15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

Yesterday and today, in consecutive verses it is recorded that God had a thought toward Judah, both of which were fulfilled even though they were diametrically opposed to each other. In yesterday’s thought He punished them, in today’s thought He promised to do them well, which He did. Of course, different generations of Judeans experienced the two extremes, one was punished, one was blessed. This dichotomy leads to something every Bible believer needs to understand. If you will bear with me for a moment, please allow me to explain a very important, yet overlooked truth about God’s Word and these devotions.

While writing these I am always pulled to explain every exception to the singular teaching that is being discussed. However, given the brevity of the format this is impossible. Which brevity lends itself to questioning, and second guessing of content, and stated conclusions. For example, yesterday we dealt with leaders making decisions and sticking with them. This leads one to question, “What if the conditions change, or the leader finds out new information that would lead them to change their thoughts about the proper course of action?” Certainly, this is possible and very probable, for even on some occasions our Father Himself repented of His course of action and changed. These course corrections are always an option and should be considered carefully. One would have to agree though, there is strength in a leader who makes well thought out decisions and sticks with them rather than a leader (so called) who is wishy washy, spineless, and is always changing simply because a little pressure is applied.

If every exception were explained to each scenario, each devotion would be so involved that it would never communicate a clear thought. The Bible is filled with examples of this. One statement will teach one truth while another statement will teach a varying truth based on different circumstances. A simple example of this is found in Proverbs 26:4-5. In verse 4 it is recorded: Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Yet the very next verse states: Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Two equally valid and straightforward truths, yet they vary in their actions. If you are a person who is likely to be swayed by a persuasive but foolish person, do not answer him, do not debate him, and do not discuss things with him. But if you are strong enough in your belief and if that foolish person needs to be lowered from his lofty conceited self-assurance, then answer him (this may also save others from that fool’s influence). When to answer or not to answer is a matter of wisdom and discernment.

In I Corinthians the Apostle Paul tells those in the church at Corinth to not even eat with those who were caught up in wicked sins (I Corinthians 5:11). Yet, in II Corinthians Paul admonishes the same people with these words: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one would be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (II Corinthians 2:7). So, there is a time to refrain from even eating with someone, and there is a time to restore someone. The difference is circumstances. Remember that Solomon wrote there is a time for everything under the sun. It is incumbent upon us to know what time it is, and how we should think and behave based upon the whole counsel of the Word of God.

If each and every time the Bible relates something to us it listed all the exclusions, or exceptions, to that teaching, no library in the world could contain it for its largeness. This is why II Timothy 2:15 speaks of …rightly dividing the word of truth. The entire Bible is needed, but the entire Bible is not written in every verse. Neither can these short devotions cover every extenuating circumstance of the topic being discussed, but hopefully throughout this year long devotion on the mind, thoughts, and thinking, the exceptions, exclusions, nuances, and subtleties will be explored. At least the ones the Lord brings to mind.

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

Dr. William T. Howe