Don’t Get Carried Away
Scripture
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”
—Colossians 2:6–8 (NIV)
The Christian life begins with surrender and continues the same way. Paul says, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.” That means every day we wake up and say, “Lord, my life is Yours.” When we live that way, our roots grow deeper, our faith grows stronger, and gratitude starts to overflow. Thankfulness becomes a natural response when we see how faithful God really is.
But Paul gives a warning too. He says, “See to it that no one takes you captive.” The word he uses paints a picture of someone being carried off as a captive or as plunder. Most of us will never be dragged away by force. We drift, one idea at a time, until our hearts end up somewhere we never meant to go. Plenty of ideas sound wise or harmless but quietly pull us away from Christ. The question is never whether something will shape your thinking. The question is what.
“You become what you give your mind to.”¹
— John Mark Comer
That is why guarding your mind is about more than keeping bad ideas out. It is about filling your mind with what is true. The world will always offer its own version of truth. It promises happiness through money, status, or pleasure, yet it leaves us empty and never delivers the freedom it advertises. Paul says these ideas depend on human tradition rather than on Christ. When you give your attention to Him and His Word, He renews your mind, and you begin to see clearly what is true and what is false.
So keep walking with Him just as you began. Pay attention to what you feed your mind each day, and give more of it to Christ than to the noise around you. Stay rooted in His Word, guard your heart, and let your life overflow with thankfulness. Choose today to give your mind to Jesus, and let Him shape you into the person He created you to be.
Reflection
- What are you giving your mind to most days, and how is it shaping you?
- How can you stay rooted in God’s truth when the world’s messages sound convincing?
- What does it look like for your life to overflow with thankfulness today?
Prayer
Ask God to help you stay close to Him and guard your heart from anything that pulls you away. Thank Him for the freedom you have in Christ and for the strength that comes from walking with Him each day.
Footnote
¹ John Mark Comer, Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2021), [page].
Footnote
¹ Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002), 95.