Matthew 9:1-17 Jesus’ response to the scribes who accused Him in their hearts of blasphemy was, “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house” (Matt. 9:4-6, KJV).
Our hearts speak louder to Jesus than our words. The scribes never said audibly, “You are a blasphemer,” but they said it within themselves, and Jesus heard their thoughts. The Bible says, “As he [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
God knows the thoughts of your heart. Does this scare you? This would only scare you if you are holding on to evil thoughts in your heart. All through our lives our enemy, Satan, will bombard our minds with temptations, but we have the power to reject these thoughts. Satan will give us mental images also that will stir lusts in our hearts, but we have the choice to pull the shade down within us and say, “No, I will not look at that.”
When these thoughts are allowed to remain in our minds for a length of time, they can become longings. The lust of the eye is greedy longings in our minds like fantasies and vain imaginations. Looking at pornographic material can cause greedy longings in our minds. Even if we never see such material with our natural eyes, Satan has the power to give such images to our minds.
God destroyed the whole earth except for one family of eight because of the wicked imaginations in the hearts of men. Are these wicked imaginations in our heart today? Satan will send these imaginations, but the moment the image comes, we have to shine the light of Jesus upon that dark image. How do we do this? We say aloud, “I will worship the Lord my God, and Him only will I serve.” This is the sword of the Spirit to wield as a mighty weapon to dispel the wicked images Satan sends you. All worship is based upon imaginations.
Which God will you worship today—false gods or the one true God? Jesus is the divine expressed image of the invisible God. We need to keep His face ever before us, and then our imaginations will be touched with His purity. If the eyes of our minds (our imaginations) are single upon Jesus, then our whole bodies will be filled with light.
Father, give me holy imaginations today. Cleanse my mind and give me Your thoughts.
READ: Genesis 26:17-27:46; Matthew 9:1-17; Psalm 10:16-18; Proverbs 3:9-10
Michael Snyder 
Rabbi Eric Tokajer 
Bunni Pounds 
