GOD’S MEASURE OF YOUR THOUGHTS
The message for this morning is a topic that you most likely have not heard before. However, I assure you this topic describes how God will one day measure our lives. In this series, I have shown you how God will measure our obedience, our prayers, our sacrifice and how we glorify God. Each of these factors are important, and they will each have an impact on eternity. But perhaps, one of the most interesting ways God will measure your life is by your thoughts. Not only will God measure our lives by what we do, but He will also measure our lives by the deep secrets of our hearts. God who is all-powerful and all-knowing, knows our every thought, and what we think is very important to Him. With that thought in mind, let’s open our Bible and hear what God has to say about the thoughts of our heart…
1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. (Your thoughts) At that time each will receive his praise from God. NIV
JESUS KNOWS EVERY THOUGHT
Throughout His entire ministry Jesus knew the heart and thoughts of every person He encountered.
He knew when their words did not match the thoughts of their hearts. For example;
Matthew 9:4 … knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? NKJV
Jesus instantly knew that what the Pharisees said with their mouths, was very different from the hypocritical thoughts of their heart. He knows the hidden thoughts of our hearts.
In Luke 7, Jesus knew the thoughts of Simon the Pharisee and at the same time, He also knew the thoughts of the woman’s heart that kissed his feet. Again… Jesus knows our every thought.
Romans 2:16 …God will judge the secrets (thoughts) of men by Jesus Christ… NKJV
God who created every heart, knows every thought and He will measure our lives by our thoughts, because our thoughts reveal who we truly are.
THE SECRET THOUGHTS OF YOUR HEART
The Bible says in Psalm 44:21 …God knows the secrets of the heart. NKJV
There is no greater measure of God’s ability to judge our lives, than His ability to know your thoughts. By your thoughts God knows your prayers, your dreams, your joys, and what you truly love. By your thoughts, God sees your faith, your determination, and the true motives of your heart. Your thoughts reveal the true motive of what you do and why you do it, and one day, God will measure your true character and motives by your thoughts.
This is so important that David asked God to search the secret places of His heart.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive (wicked) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. NIV
David knew that His thoughts revealed the true condition of his heart and he wanted more than anything for the thoughts of His heart to be right with God. Anyone can say nice words, but it is the thoughts of your heart that reveals your true character.
Proverbs 23:7 For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. NKJV
How true that really is. Your thoughts are so important, that God will measure what you truly
treasure in your heart by your thoughts… Why? Because God knows whatever it is that consumes your thoughts, that is what you truly treasure in your heart… and that’s why Jesus said…
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NKJV
Does God really know our thoughts…? Will He really judge us by our thoughts…?
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:5… He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts…
Hebrews 4:13 there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. NKJV
Jesus said… Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. NKJV
God will one day expose and lay bare the true secrets of every heart. However, here’s a vital point that I want you to understand because I know this sounds scary, and it should…
God will search the depths of every thought in your heart, not to condemn you, but for the sole purpose of finding something for which He can reward you. This is not about being condemned. He is not looking for bad stuff. He is looking for the good stuff with the hopes of rewarding you with great rewards for how the thoughts of your heart were focused on Him and His kingdom. That’s why Paul warns us to focus the thoughts of our heart on things above and not on earthly treasures. The big question is, what will God find when He looks at the thoughts of your heart?
THE CONDITION OF YOUR THOUGHTS…
What does the Bible say about our thoughts? Does it include those momentary thoughts that suddenly flash across the screen of your mind when you unexpectedly see or hear something?
No, because that would not allow you to have a choice.
God will measure your thoughts by what you constantly dwell on. Whatever it is you think about most, that thing, has a high priority in your life. When God measures the secret thoughts of your heart, He is so hoping that the high priority of your thoughts will be fixed on Him and His kingdom. The big question you need to be asking is, what kind of thoughts have a high priority in my heart?
God is looking for those whose hearts are for Him and focused on Him.
For example… There are those who make an outward display of being a Christian, but in reality, their heart is not for God and no one knows it… except God… Because He knows the true condition of our heart, that no one else can see.
This is why God told Isaiah the prophet…
Isaiah 29:13 these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me… NKJV
Again, that is exactly why Paul said in I Corinthians 4:5, not to judge before the appointed time because God will reveal the true secrets of men’s heart. Again, it is vital for you to realize that your every thought is completely open before God, and that He will hold you accountable for your
thoughts.
For those who do not know God, or whose heart is not right with God, this is a very scary thought. But for the Spirit filled believer who truly desires to walk in God’s light and is sincerely trying to please God, this is a great blessing because God wants to reward with great rewards, everyone whose thoughts and hearts are focused on Him.
GOD MEASURES YOUR THOUGHTS TOWARD HIM
At this very moment, God is measuring your thoughts toward Him. He measures your actions, and He measures your words, and… He specifically measures your thoughts, because your thoughts reveal what your heart truly believes about God.
More than anything, God wants your heart. He wants your heart and thoughts to be about Him and His kingdom. In preparing for eternity, know that God will measure the thoughts of your heart to see if your heart was truly sincere in your love for Him and His kingdom. Don’t let your life be consumed by the things of this world that have no eternal value.
Paul wrote… Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. NKJV
To prepare for that moment in eternity, you must begin now to…
Set your thoughts on the high calling of God for your life.
Set your thoughts on godly things that are pleasing to God.
Fill your thoughts with praise to God for all that He has done in your life.
Fill your thoughts on the beautiful and wonderful things of God, rather than the false treasures of this world. In Jesus name, I encourage you to fill your mind with heavenly things rather than earthly garbage.
MEASURE YOUR LIFE BY WHAT GOD REVEALS IN YOUR HEART
Jeremiah 17:10 I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind… NKJV
God will test your heart to see what’s there, because he knows the secret thoughts of your heart reveal who you truly are when no one else sees you. In preparing for eternity, ask God to search your thoughts and reveal to you what He sees in your heart. And if your heart is not right with Him, ask Him to transform your heart and mind so that on that day when you stand before Him, He will find your thoughts pleasing to Him.
How do we handle our thoughts, especially those thoughts that are not good?
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension (deception) that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. NIV
I realize there is a whole sermon in these words, but… the point is… it is our responsibility to bring our thoughts under the obedience of Christ. Any thought that stands against God and His divine truth… any thought that dishonors God and His word… we are to reject that thought, and submit our heart to the obedience of Christ.
One of the very best ways to remove doubt and unbelief from our thoughts, and to fill our minds with faith and godly truth, is by reading God’s word.
Romans 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
God’s word can transform your mind from thinking on worldly things to thinking on godly things that glorify God. As you read God’s word, ask God to transform your mind and fill your thoughts with heavenly knowledge and wisdom so that you will constantly… think… upon the will of God and do it. Feed your mind and your thoughts with God’s word, for the day will come when God will
measure your thoughts by His word.
THE MIND OF CHRIST
Have you ever wondered what Jesus focused His thoughts on? Jesus said…
John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. NKJV
Jesus focused His thoughts on doing the will of God which was to die for the sins of the world. To think like Jesus is so important that Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5…
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus… NKJV
Jesus’ mind and thoughts were filled with doing God’s will. That’s our goal… to have a humble attitude that is focused on knowing and doing God’s will. The point is… when God measures our life, He will greatly reward those who constantly filled their thoughts with a burning desire to obey God, just as Jesus obeyed God. Ask God to fill your mind and heart with an attitude that is focused on doing God’s will.
IN CLOSING…
In closing, in Philippians 4, Paul gives us a model of how to think godly thoughts.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. NIV
This is an excellent model for godly thinking that can shape our life for eternity.
For example… Paul says to think on those things that are true. Ask yourself, is what I am thinking about acceptable to God? Are my thoughts true to God’s word? When you fix your thoughts upon the things of God that you know are true, God will reward you with His peace.
Another thought is… Is it noble (honest)? Are my thoughts honest and acceptable in God’s
sight? God hates dishonesty. Is what you’re thinking and doing, honest and for the glory of God?
Another thought is… Is it just, which means is it right? Do I have the right motive for doing something? Is what I am doing right for the glory of God and for the benefit of other people?
The point is… As believers in Christ, we must focus our thoughts on the things of God that are true and righteous. If you want your thoughts to be right before God, then fill your mind and thoughts with the things of God. Don’t waste your life pursuing the world’s junk. Instead, set your thoughts on the things of God that have eternal value.
FINALLY…
It is imperative to realize that your every thought is completely open before God, and He will hold each of us accountable for our thoughts whether they are good or bad. It is vitally important that you being today to personally measure your life by your thoughts, so that you will not be ashamed when the motives and thoughts of your heart are revealed by God on the judgment day of Christ.
Remember… you are responsible for your thoughts…
Ask the Lord to renew your mind and to fill your thoughts with holy and righteous thoughts that are according to His will, so that on that great day, when He examines the thoughts of your heart, He will say to you… “Well done good and faithful servant…”
