Day 2 - How Thinking Becomes a Kingdom | Our King and the Kingdom of God - 21 Day Devotional
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 23:7, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
Religion is man’s attempt to respond to his desire to find some type of meaningful, and possibly intimate, relationship with a Supreme Being as he seeks to find some reasonable meaning to life. (Munroe)
Without Christ or the Bible, people will still center around something they consider supreme or powerful. People will follow others, even when their intentions may be unhelpful, selfish, or harmful. We see this search for meaning with obsessions with sports, news, politics, conspiracies, religious things, and a whole host of other pursuits.
It is in human nature to think and do as a means to find meaning in life. This is the nature of religious practice apart from Christ. Within religion (including religion created by self), ideas are king.
Thoughts and ideas become an “ideology.” An ideology is the formulation of ideas and thoughts that have been pondered, developed, refined, defined, and formalized. These ideologies form foundations for the creation of systems of governing communities, societies, cities, nations, and the world. On the negative side, some ideologies have been the source of injustice, destruction, oppression, mass poverty, depression, and social terror. (Munroe)
Another way to view an ideology would be as a “kingdom” or “domain” of a “king,” which may be self. The quest for power and authority is another aspect of human nature.
The Kingdom of God causes one to be founded in truth and in Christ. The mind can be renewed and thoughts become fruitful.
Reflection questions:
1. What is an ideology?
2. What have you seen in your life that became a religion apart from Christ?
Reflection questions:
1. What is an ideology?
2. What have you seen in your life that became a religion apart from Christ?
3. It what ways has your thinking changed, or need to change?
My Action Item:
My Action Item:
