The Plumbline

People who live following their sinful selves think only about what they want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about what the Spirit wants them to do. If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6) Thinking or not thinking - both can present problems we might not want to deal with. If we think upon things that are not honorable or will bring dishonorable actions into our lives, we get the resulting problems associated with those sinful thoughts. If we fail to think before we act, relying only upon what feels good to us at the moment, we will reap the results that will not always be very rewarding or wonderful. Thinking must be controlled - it cannot just be willy-nilly. If we are to live upright lives, we need a 'thinking partner' in this walk. That is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live within us. We need his presence to help us fil...

Men and women of understanding know there is a time and place for everything.  The events of today prepare us for those of tomorrow.  We may not always see clearly today what tomorrow holds, but we do know if we conduct our affairs to the best of our ability today, listening intently to the voice of God as we do, we will be in a better position for what tomorrow brings.  Our "U" List character trait is actually linked to being men and women of understanding: Upright.  Most of us think of this as being in line with what is right, but it also means being directed vertically.  In a spiritual sense, isn't this how it is we are to conduct our "business" of today - directed vertically, upward in our focus?   Lord, who shall dwell [temporarily] in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on Your holy hill?   He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks ...