"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways", declares the Lord. -Isaiah 55:8
Our ways of thinking & functioning make so much sense to us that we don't even know when they are opposite of God's ways.
What we appraise highly is not usually on God's "top 10 list" (see Proverbs 21:2). The danger behind it all is that we've become so comfortable with our ways of thinking that we project them onto God and deceive ourselves into believing that He thinks the same way, too. Therefore we can justify nearly anything.
A careful study of the scriptures can clarify any contrast between our way of doing things and God's "higher ways" (Isaiah 55:9). Here are some examples:
1)When we are wronged, we think revenge is the answer;
God's answer is forgiveness.
2)We are of the mind that in order to get ahead, we need to get as much as we can;
God says it is better to give than receive.
3)We are told to hurry or the opportunity might pass us by;
The Bible says to wait on the Lord.
4)We value acceptance by our peers;
Jesus was despised and rejected.
5)Our society places a lot of importance on appearance;
Jesus had "nothing in his appearance that we should desire him" Isaiah 53:2.
6)It appeals to us to have authority over others;
Serving others pleases God.
7)We strive to have a trouble-free life;
God provides joy in adversity.
8)We would all like to escape death;
For the Christian, to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
9)Everyone deserves judgement for their sins;
God offers mercy in Jesus.
10)We naturally think we need to work hard to obtain favor from God;
God's Word challenges us to rest in the work of Christ which restores us to favor with Him.
11)When Jesus died on a cross it was considered shameful;
God made it the key to glory!
12)The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are bound for destruction;
But to those who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
13)We believe that God understands our desires for things in this world;
1John 2:15 says if anyone loves the world or the things in it, love for the Father is not in him.
14)We're all told to follow our hearts;
Scripture says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Jeremiah 17:9
15)We think that we are generally good people;
The Bible says there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:3
*note: Why do we maintain that we are good when we know we've done bad things?
16)Nobody likes to be weak;
God can't be strong in us until we become weak.
17)The mindset of our culture says "I'm okay";
The mind of sinful man (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6
18)We claim to have a right to live our life the way we want to;
If you try to keep your life you will lose it, but if you lose your way of life for God's way you will find it! Mark 8:35
19)The suffering servant becomes a victorious ruler!
20)By nature, we hate our enemies;
God says to love your enemies. When we were enemies of God, He loved us!
We can no longer continue to justify our ways under the guise of claiming to "believe in God" and expect no consequences.
Unless we are right with Him, none of it matters. So, let's repent of inventing the wrong image of God in our minds and turn our lives over to Jesus- the precise image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15).
