GOD'S THOUGHTS AND OURS

ISAIAH 55:8

A. "FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NEITHER ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS, SAITH THE LORD, FOR AS THE HEAVENS ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, SO ARE MY WAYS HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS, AND MY THOUGHTS THAN YOUR THOUGHTS."
  1. The words of our text are closely connected with the preceding verses:
    1. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts"
    2. "Let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him: and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon"
  2. In another place God says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil to give you an expected end." - Jer. 29:11
B LET US MEDITATE UPON GOD'S THOUGHTS AND OURS
  1. A revelation of God's thoughts:
    1. The thoughts of God are expressed in the Bible - John 5:39; 2 Pet. 1:19-20; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
    2. His only begotten Son expresses the thoughts of God - John 5:19-30; 15:9
    3. The law of the ten commandments express God's thoughts - Ex. 20:3-17; Eccl. 12:13-14
  2. Man's thoughts:
    1. Are evil in their very source - James 3:11 Gen. 6; Matt. 15:19; Jer. 17:9
    2. They are in direct opposition to God's Thoughts - Rom. 8:6-7; I John 3:4
    3. Man's thoughts keep him in darkness about God's thoughts, about God's attitude toward him
  3. The proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ has as its chief end:
    1. To change men's thoughts toward God - Examples: God appeared unto Saul to change his thoughts about God and His only begotten Son - Acts 9:1-20; Paul and Silas were sent to the Jailer to give him different thoughts about the true God - Acts 16:25-39; Peter's message on the day of Pentecost gave the children of Israel new and different thoughts about God and His Son - Acts 2:1-36
    2. To give the believer the thoughts of the Son of God - His mind - Phil. 2:5; Gal. 2:20 C. THE CONTRAST OF GOD'S CHARACTER AND OURS
  4. The thoughts are but the basis of character:
    1. "As he thinketh in his heart so is he." - Prov. 23:7
    2. The thoughts of sinful men are but the index of their character - Gen. 6:5
    3. God is not in their thoughts - Ps. 10:4
    4. Satan controls their thoughts and in that way their lives - John 8:44
  5. The Thoughts of God reveal the character of His being:
    1. His thoughts are thoughts of peace - that is why He is the God of peace and His Son is the prince of peace! - Col. 3:15; 2 Thess. 3:16; Rom. 15:33
    2. His thoughts are toward us
  6. When the law of God, which is a revelation of His thoughts and His character, is written upon the tables of our heart:
    1. We will express the thoughts of God in our lives - Rom. 2:13-14; Heb. 10:15-16
    2. And when Christ, through the Holy Spirit, dwells in our hearts, we will think the thoughts of God--thoughts of peace.
  7. What our prayerful resolve should ever be:
    1. 'Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. 51:10
  8. God's thoughts and our thoughts:
    1. If I follow my own sinful inclinations, my thoughts will be the very opposite of the thoughts of God.
    2. Since our thoughts express themselves in our words and actions, they will lead us to sin and eternal ruin! - Gen. 6:5
    3. But when we receive Christ into our hearts by faith, a change takes place; we will have pure thoughts, thoughts of peace, and the love of God will control our lives! Rom. 6:14-17
    4. May the God of peace and mercy reign freely in our thoughts, words, and deeds!


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