What do you think about all the time? Something I have discovered in talking to so many men about their personal lives is that while we can categorize the types of things people will think about in general everyone has their own internal environment. In my young years, I found myself proud of the fact that I loved heavy metal, hard rock and even deathcore styles of music. It was one of my joys to point out the seeming contradiction in me (kindness and gentleness versus the angry music I was filling my head with). Now, however, I recognize that listening to that kind of music regularly (participating in the angry chanting of hate) set me up for failure far more than it helped me. In short, being a metal head hyped me up, which is very dangerous for an addict because that’s when we start acting out. In short, the thoughts that grab and hold our attention are very important, and will create structures of thought in our brain.
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”
Hebrews 12:3
Does Jesus hold your attention? Why not? How is your internal environment engaging with Jesus?
There is a simple but profound truth here. If we let Jesus into our lives, as He is, then He will shape a healthier mental landscape. We can even go so far as to say that if we are not healthier tomorrow than we were today, it is the presence of God, Christ, and the Spirit that was missing. Question: are you healthier when you think about Jesus? I know many people who have accidentally poisoned their relationship with Christ so that every time He enters their mind they are worse for it. This is not Christ’s fault, but the fact that they have only a caricature of Him in their minds. Like the man who thinks that God is nothing more than a wrathful avenger, a man who believes that Christ is behaviorally motivated, a magic trick, a miracle cure, or a cheerleader for life will end up serving the idol of performance instead of receiving the person and character of Jesus. For such a man to look at Christ’s sacrifice only brings more shame. But for the believer who meditates on the real Jesus, who died to make us free, out of love – they are given the strength to walk through the pain. They do not grow weary. They receive strength from their consideration of Christ.