Eduardo Rivera, 43, was in court awaiting a hearing on a charge of receiving stolen property when he was re-arrested after carving his name into a courtroom bench (Reading, Pennsylvania, February 2003).
David Joe White Jr., 32, having just pleaded guilty to 42 burglary charges, was re-arrested after stealing his lawyer’s portable tape recorder from the defense table (Attalla, Alabama, February 2003).
Chan Kwok-keung, 34, was sentenced to four months in jail for stealing a court interpreter’s purse; he was in the courtroom at the time on theft charges (but had just been cleared).
Some people just will not change!
For the Christian, though, change is a lifelong agenda. God has already made up His mind that we are going to be changed. The Bible says He has even preordained it. He has planned that all His children be changed into Christ’s character.
Romans 8:29 (NIV) For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
God wanted a family, but we were all messed up. His plan was to redeem us and then make us like His Son Jesus Christ.
Now since God is bigger, stronger, smarter, and more patient than we are, the most reasonable thing for us to do is cooperate with Him. When we do, we find that our character changes.
The first thing that He works on in us is our thoughts. Our thoughts absolutely have to change. The Bible calls changing our thinking –Repentance. Unless your thoughts change, you just cannot change. Our thoughts can literally destroy us. God has a better idea; our minds must be renewed.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
That principle can work for you or against you. People think they can’t help the thoughts that come into their minds, but yes, you can. Martin Luther said thoughts were like birds flying over your head, “You can’t stop them from flying overhead, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair!”
As we allow God to change our thinking, the whole direction of our lives begins to change. Instead of thoughts of bitterness, resentment, worry, envy, gossip, lust and anger, our minds are renewed to think righteously and the result is peace( not plagued with worry) and joy ( really having a good time in life)! God’s way of thinking has always been better than ours, not just different from ours, but higher and better.
Isaiah 55:7-9 (NIV) Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As we abandon our own thoughts to embrace His, we are the ones who benefit!