The proof of our love is found in our motives and actions, not just our words. Words persuade and entice. But actions speak louder. We can say, “I love God. I’m a Christian. I love others.” But saying does not prove anything about love. The proof of our love is found in the outward expression of the goodness God has placed in our hearts. It was never intended to remain there, but to fill us with an overflowing contentment that spills into the lives of others. The proof of our love comes not with boasting of our deeds but rather with “gentleness and meekness of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:1)
To find the source of the proof of our love requires we look more deeply, beyond “the surface of things” to the authority that speaks into our lives. What authority is this? It is whatever we allow to persuade our thinking and control our actions. Think of authority as being a stronghold in your life.
Have you ever noticed that there are two types of strongholds in life? There are those that keep you safe, like the protective walls of a great city. And there are those that take you captive and imprison you, like negative thinking and other lies. Your house is a sort of stronghold, built with secure walls and locked doors. But if we leave our front door open who will protect us? Our minds are like that. Either we have built up protecting walls, built on the solid foundation of God’s lasting truths that secure our thinking or we invite danger and evil to set up negative and pretentious arguments that distort our way of thinking and threaten our well being.
What king of a stronghold have you established? Is it one that protects and provides for your wellbeing or one that takes you captive to vain philosophies and self-limiting possibilities? One that builds you up or tears you down? One that makes you a conqueror or one that conquers you?
Paul reminds us that we have divine spiritual weapons to fight against strongholds that set to defeat us. “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Sometimes, we think we can defend ourselves with boasting of our own history of accomplishments and abilities. But those strongholds hold no protection for us. Everything we boast of could be gone tomorrow. Our bank account looks strong until it fails. Our health seems strong until it’s suddenly taken from us. Our family seems like a rock and refuge until it is divided. Our vain thinking seems clever to us until the lies are exposed.
It’s only in submitting to the authority of the one who is able to demolish the negative strongholds in our life that we find real strength and protection. God is that final authority who speaks proven love and conquering truth. His Word builds protecting walls around our lives. But strongholds are continually tested every day. Each new argument that speaks divisiveness, self-depreciation, and hurtful lies sets siege and seeks to become a stronghold that holds us prisoner, separated from all the good God intends for us. Each day it’s a new battle and a new battle field. Each moment is a choice, an opportunity to to trust and honor God or to go our own way.
Today is the day. This moment you are reading this is the time to declare again, “I will remain awake today. I will be vigilant. I will take captive every thought that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and make it obedient to Christ. I will examine every lie against the truth of God’s Word and seek refuge in the walls that protect and prosper me, not the ones that imprison me in negative and futile thinking. Today I will live free as God intended.