Sharing

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

The Christian walk is a quite unique from any other view on the world. It is unique among all the world religions. As a matter of fact, I would not even classify it with world religions. Many things make Christianity unique, such as it is the only world religion that does not make heaven or the afterlife dependent upon works based righteousness. Also, it is the only religion among world religions whose central figure is still alive. Considering all others, their leaders are dead. For instance, consider leaders such as Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, etc, etc, but Jesus Christ raised from the dead and is alive today.

Another thing that makes Christianity unique is the concept of charity. Only in Christian values do we find the concept that gain is accomplished by giving away that which one has. This is not strictly meant of our financial means, though the concept does apply there, but is also meant of our spiritual possessions. Just as the seed cannot germinate and bring forth much fruit unless it has been cast into the ground, neither can we bear the fruits of righteousness if we do not first plant seeds of righteousness all around us. We have to share that which we have in order for it to grow.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Focus on the Important Things

Matthew 14:29-30 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

This short except of scripture comes from the story of Jesus walking on the water. In these two verses we see the Lord bidding Peter to come and walk on the water as well. Peter leaves the safety and comfort of that sea going vessel and is walking upon the water to the Lord. What a magnificent scene this must have been; the Lord and Savior standing amidst the waves and one of his disciples walking on the water to him. In the dark of the night with the storm brewing around them, there they stand upon the tumultuous sea.

As I was studying this scripture, one thing struck me as odd, and I wanted to share that today. In verse 30 we find that Peter becomes afraid, but have you ever noticed what struck that fear in Peter. Remember that Peter was walking on the water, but notice that is not the waves of the water that causes him to fear, but it is the wind. That is interesting because he certainly would not drown in the wind. If he were to drown, it would be the water that would be his enemy. As I began to meditate on this, I began to realize that often in my life when I was walking by faith that Satan often tempted me to look at the trivial things around me to take my focus off the greater dangers. Once my focus has been shifted from the major dangers those dangers become even more dangerous to me. It is critical that when we walk by faith that we do not get distracted by trivial issues around us. If we are going to walk by faith that the Lord will provide, then we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from the path at hand and we must remain focused on the major danger. What is the major danger? The biggest danger of walking by faith is losing site of the one that keeps us and provides for us.

When you are walking on water, don’t worry about the wind for the water is the real danger. And if you are walking on water by faith, don’t worry about the water for it is the lack of faith that is the real danger.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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What is God’s Will for Me?

(First, I would like to apologize for not sending out an October 11 edition of Pastoral Notes. I was a little under the weather yesterday and let it slip until it was too late.)

As a pastor, I find a lot of people who ask the question “What is God’s will for me?” There was a time when I would give a very vague answer and instruct the person to pray that God would show them his will for them. Over time, I have come to a slightly different place in my instructions to those that are wondering what God wants them to do. I have come to realize that there are many things where God’s will is quite obvious and plain. For instance, if you are a parent, then it is God’s will that you train up those children in the way of the Lord. If you are a husband, it is God’s will that you love your wife even as Christ loves the church. If you are a wife, it is God’s will that you submit to your husband as the church submits to the Lord. If you are a son or daughter, it is God’s will that you be obedient and honor your mother and father. If you are a church member, it is God’s will that you follow Jesus Christ and visit the sick, the fatherless, the widows, etc.

So many of God’s children are convinced that there is some great revelation of God’s will that is specific to them, and in some cases this may very well be true. It was certainly God’s will that Paul be the Apostle to the Gentiles. However, if we spend all our time looking for some grand revelation of some special will that is meant only for me, then we will miss out on the many blessings that can found in keeping and following the will of God that is already clearly and plainly revealed in scripture. To find God’s will for your life, you need only to open his word and begin to read and study what God would have you to be and how he would have you to behave. I fear that this desire for some special revealed will comes from a prideful heart that is seeking to be something more than others around it. And we know that pride goeth before destruction.

Additionally we need to consider that if God does have a particular and special task for us, then why would he reveal that will to use when we have not taken care of the things that are already plain and clear? If you really want to know what God’s will is for you, then look at the things you already do and make sure they are in keeping with the plain and clear revealed will of God. Once we have taken care of the plain and clear things, then God will clear the fog on those things that are not so clear.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Love in Deed

1st John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Biblical love is not an emotional response to a person or circumstances. Biblical love is defined by our actions toward another person. To say that you love someone is not a statement about your feelings toward them, but is rather a statement about your actions toward them. You cannot treat someone poorly and say I love them. You may treat them poorly and have some positive feelings toward them, but that is not Biblical love.

From time to time, marriages will grow cold. And if they remain cold long enough one or the other of the spouses will often say that they do not love their husband or wife anymore. There is a simple answer to the lack of love in a marriage – start loving them. This answer is usually met with the response that one cannot just start loving somebody else, however if one understands Biblical love, then they can see that it is not only possible but also a necessity. Biblical love has nothing to do with emotions or feelings that flow out of a deceitful heart, bur rather is love in action. A spouse in a marriage that has noticed that things have grown cold should examine their own actions in that marriage. They should look to their spouse and begin to treat them with more love and respect.

Often times where love is brought into action, the emotional aspect and feelings of warmth will grow, but even if it does not do so, we must still understand that it is our duty to love, not with words or feelings, but to love with our actions and our deeds. Love someone today.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Idolatrous Prayer

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

In recent days I have seen many books and heard many programs on the power of prayer. The common theme in this movement is that prayer changes things. This idea that prayer changes things is very dangerous and can be idolatrous. See, prayer does not change things, but rather it is God that changes things. In 1st Sam 4:3, the children of Israel came to the conclusion that the ark of the covenant could save them from their enemies. They had forgotten that it was not the ark, but rather the God that they ark represented.

We must remember that prayer is God’s tool to help use conform our will to his, not our tool to conform God’s will to ours. It is not our prayers that change things around us, but it is God that affects change and only he deserves the glory and praise.

When we begin to glorify prayer, we have elevated it to the 4th person of the trinity.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Forsake Not the Assembly

Hebrews 10:22-25 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

People often get very tired of hearing pastors talk about church attendance, but I am sure that pastors get tired of being the only members that are absolutely expected to be there every Sunday. I am sure that I am not the only pastor that has members that absent themselves from worship without notification before hand or explanation afterward, however even knowing that to be true is not really comforting. We are instructed in scripture to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. When we miss worship service we are hurting more than ourselves. We are hurting the whole church because we cannot “provoke unto love and to good works” if we are not there to do so. We have an obligation to the rest of the body to be there and do our part to make the Church the functioning and vital body that it is supposed to be.

There is nothing more discouraging to a pastor than empty pews where there ought to be people. I am not talking about just empty pews; I am talking about those pews that are empty because someone decided not to come to church on that day. It is amazing what we can come up with as an excuse to not go to church. I have had people tell me that they did not make it because they did not feel good that morning. If the pastor got up and did not “feel good”, would you expect him to still go?

God did not create us as beings that were meant to live in solitude. On the contrary, we are created as social beings that need interpersonal relationships and fellowship in order to grow in our spiritual walk. The Church fellowship and, in particular, its worship provides the tailor made opportunity for us to fulfill that need in our life.

Go to Church this weekend, even if you do not feel good! Maybe you will feel better when you get there.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Be Thankful for the Manna

Numbers 11:4-6 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (5) We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic: (6) But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

After being delivered from slavery, led through the read sea, drinking water from a rock, and being fed from heaven, the children Israel show their lack of gratefulness and thankfulness by complaining about the food that had sustained them. Manna had been delivered to them straight out of heaven to feed them and sustain them when they had nothing else. Psalm 78 calls it angel’s food. Yet, even though they had this angel’s food, they wanted something more. Why did this happen? I would say that it was largely due to familiarity. Once a blessing becomes so routine that it is a part of our daily life, we run the risk of forgetting that it is a blessing from the hand of God.

I believe that the same attitude that afflicted Israel in this instance is a large part of what is wrong in the church and among God’s people today. The people of God have taken the blessings of the Lord and forgotten what blessings they are. They have continually asked God for more rather than thanking God for what they already have. When our complaints rise, our thankfulness falls. When a person is complaining, they cannot be thankful. Have your ever heard anybody say “I am really thankful for what I have, but…..”, and then following the “but” there is a statement of what they are lacking or a statement of why they would rather have something else? Saying you are thankful does not make you thankful, and if your statement of thankfulness is going to be followed by a complaint or a statement about what you lack then you are not thankful no matter how many times you try to say it. Thankfulness is characterized by a lack of complaint and the presence of contentment.

I pray that we would look around us and see the blessings that have come right out of heaven and be thankful for them. Do not despise the manna that God has given you.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Revival

Psalm 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Revival comes only from God. Only God can revive us spiritually. Spiritual revival will only come when there has first been a practical revival of Christian service. When God’s people realize their shortcomings in practical Christian service and cease to seek prestige in their jobs and other aspects of their life and begin to put the kingdom of God first, then will God revive our hearts to a greater experience of joy and peace in God’s kingdom here on earth.

Special Announcement

The Zion Primitive Baptist Church will host our fall quarterly meeting this weekend (October 7-9). Services will be held on Friday night at 7:00pm, Saturday morning at 10:30am, and Saturday afternoon immediately after lunch. We will also have services on Sunday morning at 10:30am. Lunch on Saturday and Sunday will be served at the church. Elder Larry White, Pastor of the Liberty Church in Smithville, GA, will be preaching for us on Friday and Saturday. Everyone is invited to attend.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Worship as an Act of Giving

John 4:19-24 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (20) Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (21) Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. (22) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. (23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

The Bible is full of texts that demonstrate that it is our duty to worship God. He is worthy of our praise and adoration for all that he has done for us. He is worthy of our praise and adoration because he is the creator of all that we see. We are commanded to worship him. The act of worship is not an act of taking, but is rather the act of giving. We see that in the Old Testament, where the Old Testament worship service always involved the act of making a sacrifice to the Lord. Worship is primarily an activity where the worshipper is giving to the one that is to be worshipped. You may wonder why this is important. It is important to understand because many of God’s people cease to attend church and cease to study their Bibles because they “don’t get anything out of it anymore.” I have heard that statement many times. I have had people say “I used to go to church, but I quit going because I just wasn’t getting anything out of it anymore.” I have to wonder from where this concept originated. We do not go to the house of the Lord to worship our God to see what we might get, but rather we are there to give of ourselves. Worship is the act of giving praise, giving honor, giving glory, etc, etc, with the key being the word “giving.”.

Many times when we go to the house of the Lord and give of ourselves, we find that the Lord gives back to us, and that is good. However, one should not come to the conclusion that just because they are not getting anything out of the worship service that they are free to stop worshipping. See, it does not matter what we get out of worship, what matters is what we put into it. As such, we ought to be willing to sacrifice everything to be in the house of the Lord each day that the doors are open and give to Him honor, praise, and glory.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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The Fruit of the Spirit

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Have you ever noticed that this verse says “the fruit of the Spirit is”? Notice that it does not say “the fruits of the Spirit are”? Do you see the significance in the difference? If not, then please read on. Gal 5:22 presents the fruit of the spirit as a singular entity. This implies that joy, peace, love, etc, are not different fruits, but rather are all aspects of the same fruit. This verse is similar to saying “the fruit of the apple tree is round, sweet, firm, etc”. The point is that there is one fruit that comes from the Spirit, and that fruit has the characteristics of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

The implication of the singular fruit of the Spirit is that every child of God that has been born again and currently has the Spirit within them also has this fruit with all it’s characteristics within them. So the child of God cannot make statements like “Oh, I certainly love all my brethren, but meekness just isn’t a gift that God has given me.” No, if you have been born again, you have all these characteristics. If you are not leaving a meek life, it is not because God has not given you some gift, it is because you have not exercised what you already have.

We all need to make every effort to make sure that we show forth the fruit of the Spirit that has been placed within us. The Spirit is there, and where the Spirit is it will bear fruit. The question is whether we will hide that fruit or show it forth. We show it forth by living in those characteristics that characterize the fruit of the Spirit. May God help us to live a Godly life today.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Rejoice Always

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Are you happy today? If not, why? I would venture a guess that all those that say they are not happy will give various circumstances as the reason for their unhappiness. When asked why they are unhappy, the will be begin to explain their current state of health, the pain they are enduring, their financial problems, or what one of their brothers or sisters did to them. We have become very “situationally” inclined in our current culture. We judge success, failure, happiness, satisfaction, contentment, etc all based on our current situation. For the child of God, born of the spirit, this should not be so. There is only one situation or set of circumstances that should matter to us. That set of circumstances is the circumstances that sent Jesus Christ to the cross to die for our sins. That set of circumstances has set us apart from the world and has snatched us from the grips of a life in eternal hell. So, no matter what our current temporal circumstances, we have reason to rejoice.

There is a big difference between joy and happiness. The Bible calls on us to live in the joy of our Lord, and we can do that even when we are not happy. Happiness generally depends on our current circumstances. We are generally happy when we see that things are currently going well with us. However, joy is something different. It is not an emotion, but is rather a spiritual possession (Gal 5:22). We can and should rejoice at all times no matter what our current circumstances. I most often see personal health issues as the greatest cause of the loss of joy. Second to that are problems with other people. In all cases, it is not the circumstance that destroys their joy, but rather the fact that in the midst of these difficult circumstances, they have chose to sin and turn their backs on the Holy Ghost that dwells in them and thus have rejected the joy of the Holy Spirit. Rather than enjoy that joy, they choose to dwell in their sorrow. In Gill’s commentary of Philippians 3:1 (a similar verse to Philippians 4:4), Gill says the following:

“A believer has always reason to rejoice in Christ; in the greatness of his person, he being in the form of God, and equal to him, and therefore able to save his to the uttermost by his obedience and death, and has interest enough in heaven to make his intercession prevalent and successful and power to keep safe all that are committed to him; and in the fitness of his person to be a Mediator, and daysman, to take care of things pertaining to the glory of God, and to make reconciliation for sin; and in the fullness of his person, he having all grace in him for his people, which is all theirs, and with joy may they draw water out of the full wells of salvation in him; and in the beauty of his person which surpasses all others, a sight of which fills with joy unspeakable, and full of glory.”

My God bless us to live in his joy!

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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What Is Stress?

1st Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

I know many people that maintain a personal prayer list. This is a good practice. We live in a very busy society, and a list of reminders as to what should be included in our prayers is certainly not a bad thing. We are instructed to pray without ceasing, so having a personal prayers list with you at all times would certainly be appropriate. If you do not normally maintain a personal prayer list, I am going to ask you to make one right now. You do not have to maintain it forever, but humor me for the sake of this devotional. Before you read further or, if you are following this edition of Pastoral Notes as a part of family worship or devotional, please stop now and either retrieve your list or make one.

Now that you have your prayer list, I want you to make another list. Put the prayer list away for the moment. I want you to make a “worry list”. I know that is a strange request, but humor me again. Make a list of all the things you are worried about. Once you have that list made, place it beside your prayer list and mark everything that is on your prayer list off of the worry list and leave it on the prayer list. Now comes the difficult part. After marking every thing off your worry list that is already on your prayer list (well, you shouldn’t be worried about those things that you have committed to prayer because you have turned them over to God, and you do believe that God is able to handle them….right?), do you have anything left on your worry list? If so, then you are stressed or, at least, strongly inclined to be so. I am not a psychologist, but I can tell you what I think is a good Biblical definition of stress. Stress is when there are things on your worry list that are not on your prayer list.

We are told that we should cast our care upon the Lord. If we have done that, we have nothing left to worry about. We are to cast our care upon him, because he cares for us. We can be assured that if we turn our troubles, trials, and mental anguish over to him that he will help us to deal with it. You may feel that some things on your worry list are too trivial to pray about, but I would remind you that Philippians 4:5 tells us that in every thing we should pray. I think the following is a good paraphrase of Philippians 4:5:

Worry about nothing, pray about everything, and be thankful for anything.

We are not to worry. That is what it means when it says “Be careful for nothing”. This is not a command to never exercise caution, but rather that we should not worry about anything. If we want to overcome worry, we need to make sure that we do not hold back anything from our prayer time. May God bless us to overcome our stress by making sure that our worry list is empty because everything that we would worry about is on our prayer list.

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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Think On These Things

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Scripture not only commands us to control our actions, but it commands us to control our very thoughts. From time to time I hear people say that they cannot control what they think or feel. I would suggest that the scripture will not support their assertion. Those who feel that they cannot control their thoughts have a very basic problem with personal discipline.

The main reason that people feel that they cannot control what they think is because they have made no effort to do so. Controlling our thoughts requires a certain level of personal discipline. Controlling what goes on in our mind is dependent on controlling what goes in our mind. Our thoughts can be purified by purifying that which we see and hear. Controlling the gates of the mind is critical to controlling and purifying our thought processes. You cannot expect to watch television shows or cinematic movies that glorify fornication, adultery, murder, and other immoral behavior and then be able to walk away and keep the thoughts in your mind on pure and good things.

The concept of personal discpline is what we call self control or the scripture often calls “temperance”. If you have difficulties controlling what goes on in your mind, then I suggest that you begin to look around to find those things that are invading the gates of your mind and influencing your thoughts and, then, eliminate them from your life. These things may be things that you like or enjoy, but we must be willing to sacrifice all that we have for the sake Christ. Are you willing to sacrifice it all? When was the last time you sacrificed anything for Christ?

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Footnote: Pastoral Notes is a devotional and spiritual series published by Elder Marty Hoskins, pastor of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church of Brunswick, Georgia. This series is published on a sporadic basis expressing thoughts that may be useful for devotionals or family worship. These devotionals and articles may be freely distributed so long as they are distributed in their entirety and this footnote is attached. These devotionals can also be read in the Pastor’s Journal at http://zionpbc.org. Any comments, questions, or request for addition or removal from this email distribution can be directed to Elder Marty Hoskins at pastor@zionpbc.org.
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