The real battle for humans begins in the world of thought. In this God created humans unique from all the rest of this earth’s creations. We were created with the ability to reason and to think. Therein we have the chance to choose. Our actions begin with a thought first in our innermost being. Temptations as well as our greatest moments of faith result from what begins as a thought. We are what we think. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. Hypocrisy often comes from hearts filled with greed spilling forth with false words meant to entrap the victim. So, it does really matter how our innermost thoughts align with reality. And since Jesus is the way, THE TRUTH, and the life, then it does really matter what your innermost thoughts are Concerning Jesus.

Only through learning to focus upon Him can we choose that which is right and gain victory over the temptations of this world. We are attacked from every side; because humanity is ever pushing forward with an ideology of self-exaltation. With love, there must be freedom to choose. With freedom there is always the possibility and potential for evil. Therefore, justice is required for a society to exist without self-annihilation. Without Justice, there is chaos which leads to anarchy and ultimately a totalitarian government to reign in the chaos.

Then Where is their hope?

For freedom to be reborn and for love to survive, a transformational forgiveness is needed to overcome evil. There is only once place where love, justice, evil, and forgiveness meet—that is the cross of Jesus Christ. Only the Grace of God, the creator of this universe, can transform hearts. Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation for humanity. He died to pay the penalty for our sin so the demands of justice. Only He can take our broken, selfish hearts, transforming them into ones that choose righteousness. Therein we find hope, joy, and peace instead of chaos.

Meanwhile, He cloaks us in His righteousness until that day we stand with these broken vessels fully redeemed into His glorious image. Therefore, our innermost thoughts concerning Jesus really do matter if we are to find our way in this world and truly find meaning for life.

Some say the greatest fear of humanity is not finding being-as displayed in Being and nothingness. Yet, only in Jesus do we have being.

Acts 17: 24-31

²⁴God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. ²⁵Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. ²⁶And He has made from one ^[^j^]blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. ²⁷So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

²⁸for in Him we live and move and have our being. As also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ ²⁹Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. ³⁰Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Evil wins when men and women’s thoughts turn away from God toward anything else. Therefore, it is of ultimate importance to establish what are your innermost thoughts concerning Jesus Christ.

Concerning Jesus

¹⁸And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” ²⁰He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Note first, Jesus as we often found Him in His Human body, was alone praying. God the Father and the Holy Spirit were His focus for strength, joy, hope, wisdom and power. They supplied all He needed. That communion was vital to His being able to live fully human, face all the temptations of this world while remaining the fully righteous son of God-Himself co-creator of the world. In a sense, He chose to lay aside His superpowers and rely fully on theirs.

Second recognize that Peter answered correctly, when asked who Jesus really is. He is the great I am, the Messiah. Jesus replied as we note in Matthew 16:

¹⁷Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

That thought which then was expressed began with the Holy Spirit’s revelation to Peter. Again, the innermost thoughts concerning Jesus really do matter. Only when we recognize who He is can we understand fully the truth of our destiny and our being in Him.

The Revelation of what is to come.

Luke 9 ²¹And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, ²²saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

There it is the gospel message in a nutshell. Christ, the Messiah, God’s only begotten son would die a cruel death on the cross to pay the price for all sin. At the cross all the evil of all humanity is poured out upon Him. But do not fear, He told them because He will be victorious. Therein lies our hope of salvation. All who believe in Him, will also be declared victorious. We will have our being established in Him for all of eternity. Declared righteous, we are endowed with all the powers needed to be victorious over sin; yet our innermost thoughts need to be corralled to keep our focus on Him who is our victory.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

²³Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross ^[^b^]daily, and follow Me. ²⁴For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. ²⁷But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” Luke 9

We are to take up our cross, whatever that might be. Not something we so willingly desire to do, unless we fully understand the truth and where that cross leads us—to Him who is our greatest treasure, joy, hope and peace. He tells them of His destiny to die on the cross; but we realize they did not fully understand this. Note that He tells them some will see at least a glimpse of the kingdom of God. We too see a glimpse of His Glory with each day if we truly look. Glimpses of His Mercy and Grace which can transform our innermost thoughts. But alas, too quickly we allow our thoughts to be drawn aside by this world. Much like Peter. Remember even after all this, he denied Christ when all this began to be played out soon after.

Oh, but that is another story. Let us look at what happens next!

Concerning Jesus-a Glimpse of the Kingdom

Luke 9: ²⁸Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. ³⁰And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, ³¹who appeared in glory and spoke of His ^[^c^]decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

³²But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. ³³Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three ^[^d^]tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

³⁴While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. ³⁵And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is ^[^e^]My beloved Son. Hear Him!” ³⁶When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

Innermost Thoughts Concerning Christ

Remember 8 days prior, Peter declared that Jesus was ““The Christ of God.” Now he wants to build altars to Elijah, Moses, and Jesus. Had Peter forgotten that Jesus was not another prophet, but the Messiah. Only He was worthy of worship, not Elijah or Moses. God quickly spoke and cleared up the confusion. ““This is ^[^e^]My beloved Son. Hear Him!” and Him only!” ³⁶When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone.

Note also, the conversation of Jesus, Moses and Elijah was about the coming crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Again, despite all this, when Peter failed to conform his innermost thoughts to all that Jesus Christ had revealed, Peter denied Christ. At the trial when the chaos of his own thoughts blocked his mind from what had already been revealed, his thoughts led to his actions. How often do we do the same?

We are to be the salt and the light to the world. Therefore, we must beware of our innermost thoughts concerning Christ, every moment of every day.

Guard Your Innermost Thoughts

In our present world, the secular humanists’ manifestos have overtaken most of our society and our educational system. From the evolutionary theory to the cancel culture, we have watched the evolution of this worldview. This ideology leads only to destruction while proclaiming their moral standards higher than God, for they in truth deny Him. Their final view of reality is that of impersonal materialism. We see the end results, abortion, genocide, cancel culture, and racial divide. These false ideas presented through the trojan horses of media and politicians. Destroying America’s freedom, while bowing to their humanistic idols of self-righteousness they march on. Yet, we must recognize the penetration of these evils into our own innermost thoughts concerning Christ.

How quickly has our society negatively impacted our desire to stand firm proclaiming the truth of the gospel. How quickly do we cower to their criticisms of us, becoming silent and allowing their false narrative to intimidate us! So, what are we to do?

Hold fast to our Innermost Thoughts concerning Christ.

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not ^[^a^]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. ⁶And being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. (2 Corinthians 10)

2 Timothy 2: ¹⁴Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to ^[^a^]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶But shun profane and ^[^b^]idle babblings, for they will ^[^c^]increase to more ungodliness.

1 Peter 1:¹³Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance. ¹⁵But as He who called you is holy. You also be holy in all your conduct. ¹⁶Because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

How?

Philippians 4 ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵Let your ^[^b^]gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.⁶Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report. If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do. And the God of peace will be with you.

Keep Your Innermost Thoughts focused on what is Concerning Jesus!

I Peter 1:

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance ^[^b^]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been ^[^c^]grieved by various trials. ⁷That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not ^[^d^]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.