rather red-faced for she had a copy not of the Bible, but rather the lat est edition of the Sears - Roebuck catalog. This subject bears constant examination. How much time are our thoughts on God rather than on man? It seems to be much easier to become more interested in hearing the worst about others than the best about God. The truth upon which our minds are to feed is the truth concerning God which is simply communion with the Lord. Next Paul says, “Whatsoever things are honest.” That term actu ally means “being worthy of rever ence.” Have you ever been in the presence of someone who so loved the Lord, who lived such a Christ-like life, that you felt you were truly standing on holy ground? Honesty is a commodity one seldom sees to day. This can be judged from several aspects. The income tax people tell us that about 75 to 80 per cent of the American citizens cheat on their income tax. It varies all the way from slightly “fudging” to gross and downright manipulation and fraud. In another sphere of activity, ac cording to a report by the F.B.I., during one year recently, one and a half million dollars were stolen evi dently in a successful manner from banks. During the same period of time, however, nine million three hundred thousand dollars were stol en or pilfered by the employees of banks. There was a certain community into which a baker moved. He set up his business and wanted to make his bread the best possible. He sought out a farmer and decided to buy all of his butter there while the rancher bought all his bread from the new baker. This seemed to be a happy relationship until one day the farmer noted that the pound loaves of bread he was purchasing were no longer the same size, but were get ting smaller. He was so upset at the
thinking about today, and I will tell you what you’ll be tomorrow.” So strong an effect our thoughts have upon every part of our daily exist ence. The prophet Isaiah has given us such wonderful words of assur ance concerning God, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind [whose thought patterns] are stayed on Thee.” First of all, think on whatsoever things are true. What do you know about today which you can count on as being true? It reminds me of the politician who was making some ex aggerated claims in his speech. He waxed eloquent as he spoke excitedly, “These are not my facts I am quot ing; they’re the facts of somebody who knows what he’s talking about!” No man has a mind that’s bound to tell the truth. How accurate are the comments of the Psalmist, who rightly observes, “We go astray as soon as we be bom, speaking lies.” And again Scripture tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?” We are more generally ready to believe a lie than we are the truth (Rom. 1:24). The only thing we can be assured of in this life is the Word of God, the Bible. It is truth. A mere pro fession to the outside world is not what counts. Have you heard of the church-going deacon who professed to be a very pious man? Some people knew him for what he really was. The pastor came to call in the home one time and the man tried to im press the minister with his godly habits. He told his little girl, “Dar ling, go get me the book daddy loves so well.” She was gone a few min utes and then returned. He was 20 Man must do more than turn over a new leaf, he must receive a new life.
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