Mind Games | Making Change | Speculations and Lofty Things

Ryan Jahn Devotional October 7, 2019 | 0

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

What are “speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God”? Check your Twitter feed. Scroll through your friends’ Facebook posts. Read the comments below any YouTube sermon and there you go! Man’s wisdom on display. Speculations start with “Well, I feel that…” Lofty things start with “I know what the Bible says, but…” Most of them reveal an alarming lack of intelligence and vocabulary, but a few of those speculations and lofty things make us go, “Huh. Never thought of it like that. Could the Bible be mistaken?” Those are the ones Paul is warning us about because they sound so wise and informed. We get a little nervous wondering, “Could they be on to something? Hasn’t anyone else thought of this?”

That’s right where Satan wants us to be, because when our minds begin to question the goodness, wisdom, and truth ofGod, we create fertile soil for seeds of doubt, rebellion, and disobedience. A better response is to bring those thoughts to Jesus and allow the light of His word to illuminate the flaws. What we couldn’t see in the dim flicker of our own understanding becomes clear in the light of absolute truth. We can pray something like this: “Lord, here’s what they’re saying and it sounds reasonable. I see what they mean, but it goes against what your word says. So, I choose to cling to your word and trust that you know more than I do. You are always good, always wise, and always right. So destroy these speculations and lofty things.”

Final Thought: What do you do when you encounter speculations and lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God?
Prayer: Lord, I’ve let my thoughts run wild when I hear or read people bashing your word. I’ve listened more than I should. Even when I argue back, I’m not always convinced. Help me destroy those thoughts and cling to your word. Amen.