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Piensa... Think...

6/4/2017

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​"en esto pensad." (Fip 4:8)

¿No quieres estar en paz? Yo, sí.

Hacer las paces con Dios es un asunto judicial. La cruz de Cristo significa todo para los que han visto su propio pecado y sus consecuencias. Reconocemos el sacrificio vicario del Hijo de Dios que permite que el creyente sea enteramente reconciliado y listo para ir al cielo.

Sin embargo, tener una mente en paz y un espíritu quieto, aunque alcanzable, no es automático. Para eso, tenemos que pensar; tenemos que ver el pensar como una disciplina; tenemos que refinar nuestro pensar por enfocarlo en áreas específicas.

No se requiere un cristiano para reconocer la importancia de pensar correctamente.

De la Dhammapada:
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“Toda experiencia es precedida por la mente, con la mente como patrón, creada por la mente.” The Buddha 

Es una cosa increíblemente maravillosa: nuestras mentes pueden reaccionar a más de lo sensual o instintivo. La información se puede asimilar. Podemos aprender cosas nuevas.

Muchas veces, vemos el pensar como un atributo inherente, como algo que hacemos natural y espontáneamente, y por tanto, nos conformamos con hacerlo más pasivamente de lo que nos conviene. El pensar requiere más que lo que sucede cuando leemos, vemos la tele, estamos con los amigos, o cuando oímos un sermón. Tal vez se aproxime más a escribir, pero aun eso tiene que sujetarse al modo correcto de pensar.

"Por lo demás, hermanos, todo lo que es verdadero, todo lo honesto, todo lo justo, todo lo puro, todo lo amable, todo lo que es de buen nombre; si hay virtud alguna, si algo digno de alabanza, en esto pensad."  Filipenses 4:8

Esta exhortación viene integrado en un pasaje donde se nos ofrece la paz de Dios. Pero, viene ligada a unas promesas condicionales que requieren una obediencia previa de nuestra parte. Una gran porción de esa obediencia requiere que pensemos.

Es una disciplina dura que requerirá amor, fe y visión para proseguir. Hay mucho afuera que nos puede impedir; y somos una olla hirviendo por dentro con mucho que nos puede descarrilar. "Este es el problema práctico de todo cristiano honesto." (Expositors Bible Commentary, Php 4:8-9)

En otro lugar, Pablo define más claramente la tarea: “...llevando cautivo todo pensamiento a la obediencia a Cristo,” (2Cor 10:5)

¿Ya estamos? ¿Podemos con esta tarea?

​"think on these things." (Php 4:8)

Don't you want to be at peace? I do.

Making peace with God is a judicial matter. The cross of Christ means everything to those who have seen their own sin and its consequences. We acknowledge the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God, which allows the believer to be fully reconciled and heaven bound.

However, having a peaceful mind and a quiet spirit, though potentially attainable, is not a given. For that we have to think; we have to view thinking as a discipline; we have to refine our thinking by focusing it on specific areas.

It does not take a Christian to recognize the importance of thinking correctly.

From the Dhammapada:

“All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by mind.” The Buddha 

It is a staggeringly marvelous thing: our minds can react to more than what is sensual or instinctive. Information can be assimilated. We can learn new things.

Too often, we view thinking as an inherent attribute, as something that we do naturally and spontaneously, and thus, content ourselves to do it more passively than we ought. Thinking requires more than what happens while simply reading, watching TV, interacting socially, or listening to a sermon. Maybe it is closer to the discipline of writing, but even that cannot be detached from the right kind of thinking.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Philippians 4:8

This exhortation is embedded in a passage wherein the peace of God is offered. However, it comes attached to conditional promises that require a prior obedience from us. A good portion of that obedience requires thinking.

It is a hard discipline that will require love, faith and vision in order to follow through. There is much on the outside to keep us from it; and we are a boiling cauldron on the inside with much to throw us off course.  "This is the practical problem of every honest Christian." (Expositor's Bible Commentary", Php 4:8-9)

In another place, Paul defines the task more clearly: “...bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2Co 10:5)

Are we there yet? Are we up to the task?

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    Greg Smith

    Greg grew up in Menomonee Falls, WI. His ministry began in 1976: 5 years in Central America, 36 in Mexico. His passion is church planting and discipleship.
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    Greg enjoys being married to Carol Ahola-Smith. Both have been missionaries (Japan and Mexico); both watched their first spouses precede them in death.
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