envelop spinner search close plus arrow-right arrow-left facebook twitter

Think About It

Think About It

by Rev. Alexandra Robinson on July 17, 2024


Reading: Romans 12:1-13

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” – Romans 12:3

Our thoughts determine our actions.  From negative thoughts channeling  our neurotransmitter pathways, to positive thoughts  boosting our mood.  We associate our thoughts with our identities in just about every social experience.  We think someone is too beautiful or popular to associate with us, so we refrain from interaction.   We think an experience is going to be fun, so we try it. We think an area is unsafe, so we avoid it.  And most recently - we think that someone is a different political party than us, so we make assumptions about them.   Pauls’ encouragement to get some control over our thoughts, might be exactly what our society needs. 

Over the past 10 years, there has been a big shift in how we think: it has become much more insulated.  Thanks to social media, we can express our thoughts in a vacuum, avoiding the repercussions our thoughts have beyond a “comment” or a “like.”  Long lost are the days of face-to-face conversation, involving eye contact or  body language; both of which help us understand  nuance and emotion.  But I believe the Christian response is always relational: to consider the impact your thoughts have upon others. “Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think,” Paul reminds us.  In other words – your opinion isn’t the only one that matters.  Your thoughts are not the only ones that have truth.  Your thoughts are not above others.  Your thoughts are not ones everyone else should have.  So your thoughts must be considered with sober judgement, before they result in response.

There are lots of thoughts being shared on the news and social media about the events of last Saturday, and speculations that could result in further harm.  I invite you, my fellow Christians, into sober judgement and  to consider Paul’s words carefully:

Think about other opinions, and ways you might try to understand their thought process.

Think about other people, and how your thoughts might influence your response to them.

Think about your beliefs that every person is holy loved by God. 

Think about how this calls you to love your neighbor wholly.

May our thoughts focus upon God’s love for all people and our call to do the same,

Pastor Alex


return to Devotionals