Walk-on Wednesday - Cleansing the Conscience - Martin Wiles

Welcome to Walk-on Wednesday. By Hump Day, we are struggling, but we believe a good devotion can strengthen us to finish the week strong. 

For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. Hebrews 9:9 NLT

He was the sweetest man in the world when she married him . . . but that soon changed.

Peter and Catrina were high school sweethearts who planned their wedding for the summer after their graduation. Nine months later, Catrina delivered their baby girl. Shortly after Adeline’s birth, life took a downward turn when Peter lost his job.

Desperate, Peter decided to do what he wouldn’t have otherwise. He robbed a local store and buried the money in a vacant lot. But he left evidence behind that led to his arrest and a six-year prison sentence. The money, however, was never recovered. Catrina didn’t feel as if she could give him a second chance. She visited him only once while he was in jail.

Imagine Catrina’s surprise when six years later Peter showed up at a Christmas celebration hosted by the police chief. In his hand was the bag of money which he presented to the police chief. “It’s all there,” he said. Peter had done his time; all he wanted now was a second chance with his wife and daughter. Prison life hadn’t soothed his conscience.

Thousands upon thousands of sacrifices couldn’t pacify the raging consciences of the worshipers who brought them faithfully. The commands and ceremonies were merely temporary fixes until Christ came and paid what only a sinless person could pay.

Cleansed consciences are only possible by accepting and understanding what Christ has done. We could pay for our sins—but it would mean death and eternal punishment. No one else has offered to do this and couldn’t if they wanted since they are sinners as well.

Only the sinless Son of God could solve our dilemma. Knowing and believing that isn’t enough, however, to clear our consciences. We must believe our sins are forgiven. If we hang on to past mistakes he has forgiven—as Peter did—we’ll live continuously with false guilt. Satan will capitalize on our misunderstanding of forgiveness and make our lives miserable and useless.

What Christ has paid for and we’ve accepted, God will never hold against us again. Is your conscience clean?

Prayer: Father, cleanse our consciences from the false guilt that Satan attempts to inflict.

Tweetable: How do you cleanse your conscience? 

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Think About What You Think About - Martin Wiles

But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. Matthew 15:18 NLT

Thinking carries a hefty price tag.

My two oldest grandboys often appear to act without thinking, but they don’t. When the younger of the two decides to slug the older one, he has thought about it first. Had he thought, I shouldn’t hit my brother no matter how mean he’s been to me, he would not have hit him. Had his older brother listened to the voice that told him not to hit his brother instead of the one that told him to disregard what Meme and Pop had taught him, he would not have hit him in the first place.

When they suddenly run over for a hug and a quick, “I love you,” they do so because they have thought about how much they love Meme and Pop—perhaps because of all the things we do for them, or give them. Whatever the motivation, they act because they have thought.

In fact, they never do anything without thinking, as small as the thoughts might be at their young ages. And it doesn’t change as we get older. I borrow money for a new car because I have thought about how much I need, or want, another vehicle. I speak an unkind word because I’ve thought about how much someone aggravates me. I don’t do a kind deed because I’ve thought about how it would take away time I’d rather be doing something else.

Jesus pegged it when He said the words we speak—good or bad—come from our hearts because we have thought about them. Good words come from minds that have pondered on good, whereas bad words come from minds that have meditated on evil.

For Jesus to charge us with good or bad hearts means we have the power to choose our actions and our thoughts—and the words that result. Which also means I have the power to determine the health of my spiritual heart. Certain things keep my physical heart-healthy, and the same applies to my spiritual heart.

Infiltrating my mind with God’s principles sets me up for healthy thinking—and proper speaking. Realizing the wonderful words God speaks to me also makes me want to speak the same to others. Words that build up, not tear down. Words that encourage, not discourage. Words that give life and hope.

Think about what you’re thinking about so that what you speak will be worth listening to.

Prayer: Father, guide us to think on those things that honor You and that will lead to actions that please You.

Tweetable: Do you think before you act? 

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Throwback Tuesday - Thinking Differently - Martin Wiles

Thinking Differently

The decisions of the majority aren’t always the best.

“If everyone else jumps off a building, would you jump too?” Or, “If everyone else goes to hell, do you want to go also?” Both favorite questions from my dad when I was growing up. His way of saying, “Consider the decision you’re making.” The questions normally had a moral fiber woven through them as well. The majority of my classmates may have been making poor moral decisions but that didn’t mean I had to mimic their behavior. I could think differently. Like God would want me to think. So I could behave in ways that pleased him and my parents. Read more...

Tweetable: Are you thinking differently than most?

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The Thought Reader - Martin Wiles

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. Psalm 139:2 NLT

The sign said she could—but I had my doubts.

When I was a preteen growing up in the 1970s, Palm Reader signs decorated almost every town, large and small. Funny, I never saw any vehicles in their parking lots, but the sign said “Open.” Although I often wondered how they could read a palm and know a person’s future by doing so, I never visited a palm reader when I reached the age where I could have. Dad called them phonies, and I adopted his stance. Forty plus years later, some of the signs remain, but the businesses are closed.

The horoscope page in the local newspaper was another popular item when I was young. Occasionally, I’d read mine. After all, everyone else was. The predictions seemed quite generic, as if anyone could write one with the chances pretty high that what was predicted might come true. Dad labeled it nonsense, and once again I claimed his viewpoint. A waste of my time.

What palm readers and horoscopes claim the ability to do—but can’t—God does. According to the psalmist, He is a thought reader. And He doesn’t guess. He knows all about my past, present, and future. I choose to believe the psalmist’s viewpoint. Believing God could do this seemed more plausible than the horoscope page or the palm reader. Since God created me, it seems only logical that He can guide me along the best life path.

Knowing God can read my thoughts changes my perspective on life. If He knows my thoughts, they must carry as much weight as the words I actually speak. And He must hold me as accountable for them as He does for my words. Jesus confirms this in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. According to Him, thinking something wrong makes me as guilty as if I had committed the deed itself.

Realizing God knows my thoughts means my life is transparent to Him. And since thoughts often lead to actions, I must manage them well lest my actions result in a lifestyle foreign to the way God wants me to live.

Only God can give us the power to control our thoughts—and our actions. Ask Him to help you think about things that are pure, just, lovely, honorable, virtuous, praiseworthy, and of good report.

Tweetable: Are your thoughts God's thoughts?

Prayer: Father, our desire is to honor You with our thoughts and actions.

Tell us how you control negative thoughts. 

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Throwback Tuesday - The Power of Replacement - Martin Wiles

The Power of Replacement

While some things can be replaced, others can’t.

“I suggest you get replacement value insurance on your household items.” It was a suggestion from our insurance agent. My wife and I owned quite a few antiques. No more was being produced. And some perhaps were one of a kind. And while this type of insurance wouldn’t solve that problem, it would give us sufficient reimbursement to purchase another similar piece. We took his advice. Read more...

Tweetable: What are you replacing bad thoughts with?

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Changing the Mind - Martin Wiles

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you. Romans 12:2 NLT

Doing so may be a woman’s prerogative, but for me, it means bumped shins and stumped toes.

Moving furniture around is one of my wife’s favorite activities. It once was mine too. Before I got older and developed an aching back. Not that I detest changing things; I merely get accustomed to their arrangement and see no need for change. For me, buying a small piece of furniture doesn’t mean we have to move everything around in every room to accommodate it. Not so with my wife.

When furniture moves, I’m more apt to hurt myself. Stumping a toe accompanies a nighttime trip to the bathroom. A chair has moved. Or if not the toe, my shin. Until I get accustomed to the new arrangement, accidents happen. I have to re-orient my mind so even when I’m half asleep I think about the new order of things.

Paul challenges believers to renew their minds—and with good reasons. Danger lurks when we don’t. Renewing involves change, but this change is for my benefit.

To see the need to change my mind, I have to acknowledge it needs changing. Since Paul instructs me not to copy the customs and behavior of the world system, he must know I’m prone to do that. And I am because of inherent sinful nature and because of the fleshly nature, I retain even after letting Christ into my life.

Renewing my mind means reorienting it to think as God thinks. He ruminates on things that are good, righteous, holy, kind, loving, joyful, peaceful, and faithful. My normal thinking leads me away from such thoughts. Renewing my mind through Bible study, meditation, prayer, and accountability with other believers keeps me thinking properly.

My wife never seems to finish rearranging furniture, and I can’t ever cease renewing my mind. Since what I think leads to actions, I must renew my mind frequently so my daily actions match who I am in Christ: a new creation with new wants, desires, and emotions.

I suppose as long as my wife can move—or at least tell me too—we’ll move furniture. She’ll never know satisfaction with one particular arrangement. Nor should I when it comes to changing my mind.

Don’t be afraid to change your mind. Doing so will always keep you in tune with God’s will.

Tweetable: Are you letting God change your mind?

Prayer: Father, guide us to renew our minds daily so we never miss Your best for us or walk onto sinful paths. 

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