One who is righteous meditates on the law of the Lord and thinks about it constantly. Psalm 1. He is not preoccupied with the situations and does not endlessly strive with his Maker. No, he meditates on the law of the Lord and on what these laws can accomplish in his life. His roots go deep down into the fountains of God, he draws up the water of life and bears good fruit. Even if heat comes, the righteous one does not fear. He knows that everything works together for his salvation and for the very best. Now the great salvation that Jesus came with can also take place in him. Whatever he does will prosper. He goes from victory to victory. We are tempted by our own desires. That is why it is so important to take heed to ourselves. What are our thoughts occupied with? Is it God’s word or is it situations that we continually encounter? Often, there are many troubled thoughts in a person’s mind. But just think that we can identify this as a temptation! Why do we become so restless and want to constantly talk about different situations? It’s a temptation. This is when it is vital to receive the word of God with meekness and allow it to divide between soul and spirit. Now the thoughts and intents of the heart are to be put in their rightful place. Even though I meant well, there are many things that the Holy Spirit wants to teach me. He confronts me with the truth about myself. Think to love the truth about yourself. Then there is a great opportunity to partake in a greater salvation. In this way, we progress and grow in God. The virtues of Christ grow forth and we bear fruit unceasingly. The ungodly are not so. The wind blows them away. The situations they encounter do not lead to salvation, but to them becoming offended. Therefore, they do not remain in the church of the living God. The Lord knows the path of the just, and it leads straight into God’s eternal kingdom, where Jesus Himself awaits them and welcomes them saying: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:34.Carl Hahne

Envy has led many people into a darkness where evil thoughts take root in their hearts. In this darkness, people tend to feel secure in their own thoughts, but they cannot see where they are going - because darkness has blinded their eyes. It is important to confront this sin in its early stages. If such thoughts are permitted to live, they will grow. Many people have ruined themselves and others because they did not take this seriously. However, it is possible to achieve victory even in one’s youth. Envy usually comes as a thought. But if it is permitted to dwell in your heart, it becomes a force to be reckoned with. In the Bible, we see several examples of this: Cain became envious because God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but not his own. He killed his brother. Genesis 4. Joseph’s brothers hated him because of his dreams and his father’s love toward him. They threw him into a well and sold him as a slave. Genesis 37. Saul became envious because the people sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” This led to hatred and persecution. 1 Samuel 18. Envy can creep in like a shadow when someone else is doing well. You could be on the verge of being led down the way of Cain without even noticing it. We see this pattern again and again in the Scriptures, and it is also something that Johan O. Smith put into words in his last message on April 22, 1943, where he said: “It is amazing to see that as soon as God’s light is revealed to a person, he meets men who are envious. This is the way of Cain.” May we hate this way. It has led to darkness, destruction, and murder for thousands of years. Paul writes that envy belongs to “the works of the flesh,” and that those who live this way will not inherit God’s kingdom. Gal. 5:19. This is a serious word. But we are called to something quite different. “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” 1 Cor. 12:26. When we are preserved in the light, and sin is not permitted to take root in us, something new grows: joy, goodness, and warmth. Then we can sincerely rejoice in the progress of others. We know it in our hearts: I really want things to go well for the other person. Let us therefore choose to have the mind of Christ, a mind that rejoices with others, that loves the light and guards our hearts, so that sin is not permitted to take root.Morten Sjemmedal

Paul writes in 1 Cor. 2:16: “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” This was a powerful statement. Here we see what Paul was working on. My mind determines my life. It is written that the noble person has noble thoughts and holds fast to what is noble. [Norw.] The mind of Christ is always occupied with what is good and noble, what is according to God’s will and good pleasure. If I have the mind of Christ, then I do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind I esteem the others better than myself. Phil. 2:3. I must keep my thoughts in Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:5-8. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” I need to test myself in this: that I keep myself in humility, humble myself, and arm myself with the same mind, with the mind of Christ. “For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” 1 Pet. 4:1. My thoughts seek those things which are above. We sing in WotL 249: “Life comes alone from Christ Jesus—pure living streams from Him pour. No one but Christ truly frees us from lusts within that wage war.” In this way, the new life emerges—my own will, my lusts and desires are crucified. The mind of Christ leads to a blessed life, where the virtues of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit become manifest: love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and purity. Gal. 5:22. Such people belong to Christ. They are those who walk in the Spirit and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Gal. 5:16. Paul writes in Col. 3:3-5: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Rom. 6:11: “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we continue in this work, then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! Phil. 4:7.Max Meier