So, what’s a think tank?
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and develops policy to impact government, culture, and society. Those policies have the power to shape our nation and world.
Each think tank focuses on specific topics, like economics, environment, health, human rights and foreign policy, just to name a few. Some of the most influential think tanks in the world are the Brookings Institution, The Heritage Foundation and the Rand Corporation.
The Family, the First Think Tank
God created the family to be its own think tank. In the home parents teach their children about Him, helping them to develop a Biblical worldview. This worldview serves as a guide to them throughout life, showing them what is right and wrong, and giving them insight into how they should respond to the situations and circumstances life presents. When believers learn God’s Word and apply it to their lives they become light in a dark world guiding others to Jesus.
Churches, Another Type of Think Tank
Churches are another type of think tank God created. They are places where Christian individuals and families gather to study God’s Word, pray, praise and worship Him. Church leaders help their members grow in their understanding and knowledge of the Bible so that they can share the Good News of Salvation through Jesus with those who do not know Him. The church and the family are the most important think tanks in the world because they were established by God to change the world through belief in Jesus!
Christian Think Tanks
Christian Think tanks serve both the church and the greater society by identifying issues that need to be addressed, studying them and drawing conclusions based on the Word of God. A strong Church has the potential to impact the community, thus the world. Here’s a list of a few Christian Think Tanks: Family Research Council, Institute for Advanced Christian Studies, and Institute for Religion and Democracy.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. - Deuteronomy 6:6
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. - Luke 18:27
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
God makes the impossible possible. He makes a way, in advance, for whatever He calls us to do.
Thinking like God sounds impossible, but when one believes in Jesus, he is filled with His Holy Spirit, which opens his mind to God’s mind. Now that person knows that everything God has said is true. At that point he is able to go to God’s Word and start connecting the dots of life to find the right answers.
Many Answers, Only One is Right
There’s a saying in our world, “What’s right for you may not be right for me.” But is that right? According to God, no it is not. While there are many answers for questions and situations in this world, there is only one right one. It is whatever God has said.
The Truth Advantage
Another way to look at this is in the light of truth. The right answers are always truth. But does truth exist? And if it does, is it important?
First, let’s define truth. Truth is anything that is considered to be a fact or real. It defines right and wrong. So, truth says there is a right answer.
God is clear in His Word that He is truth. He created it. He defines it and He commands us to believe and obey it, because He knows what’s best for us.
As our Creator and the Creator of this world, God has an advantage. He knows everything because He made it all. He made life and told us how to live it the right way.
Just think about it.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:5
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. - Proverbs 30:5
God Deserves Our Thanks
We’re going to get this conversation started with a question. Do you think someone who doesn’t believe that God exists should thank Him? Well, no, of course not. If you don’t believe someone exists then you can’t possibly thank them. That’s the position Ethan, Mo’s best friend, took when Mo’ sent him a Scripture that talked about thanking God because He’s good (Psalm 136:1). But then Mo asked Ethan if he would thank God if he knew He existed. To that question, Ethan answered, maybe. He explained that he had other people in his life to thank, not just God. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people who believe God exists, but still don’t want to thank Him. Like Ethan, they put other people in their lives before God. They want to thank their parents, friends, neighbors, anyone. And it’s okay to thank others for doing good things for us, but the important thing to remember is that those people wouldn’t exist if it were not for God. So, the good they did for us, was only possible because of God. That’s why He deserves our thanks first.
Life Is Not Perfect, But God Is
There it is. That’s the lesson. Everything we are thankful for would not be possible without God. But then Ethan said something very curious. He asked, why should he thank God when his life isn’t perfect. Well, that was a door that Mo’ was glad he opened. There are countless reasons we can be thankful to God even when our lives are not perfect, and by the way, no one’s life is. The number one thing we should all thank God for is a hope for all eternity, a hope for a life after this life that will be perfect, a life made possible through belief in Jesus. So, you see, God is good. His love is forever and He deserves our thanks.
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to thank God, but we should be thankful that God is perfect and that He’s our hope always.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1
3 THINGS WE DON’T TALK ABOUT
There’s a saying in our society, “Never talk about religion, politics or money in mixed company.” But why these three topics, and what exactly is “mixed” company?
Religion, politics and money are thought to be the top three subjects that people are most likely to disagree on. Mixed company refers to people of differing backgrounds. In other words, unless you’re around like-minded people, it is best to avoid these discussions.
TALK ABOUT GOD
But what does God say about that? Does He agree? No, He doesn’t, at least when it comes to the Christian faith. God told His believers the very opposite. He told them to go and share His Gospel message of salvation with the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20), knowing that they would encounter people of other beliefs, and some who would oppose them. But that was the whole point, to bring God’s message to those who hadn’t heard it, who needed to hear it. God told His believers to not to be swayed by the opposition, that He would be with them and give them the words to speak.
Clearly, Mo’s Granddad, Joe, does not follow society’s rule to stay quiet on matters of faith. Not only does he talk about God to everyone, he’s not afraid. Why? Because he knows God is with him, that His Word is true, that it give us the answers for life and it is the only way to salvation. (Romans 1:16, 2 Tim 16-17)
Do you happen to know someone like Granddad Joe, someone who can’t stop talking about Jesus? Does this person get on your nerves or make you uncomfortable? If so, did you ever wonder why? And, what about you? How often do you talk about Jesus? Just something to think about.
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one who believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. -Romans 1:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. - 2 Timothy 16-17
WHAT’S NORMAL?
Do you think that bringing up God in a conversation is normal or not normal? And, what is normal? Let’s look at the Merriam Webster Dictionary definition: conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern: characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine. So, according to Li’l Mo, bringing God up in a conversation is “not normal”. Let’s take our country, America, for example. Is talking about Jesus in our society usual, typical or routine? I would say, no, it is not. If we take a look at the majority of television programs, movies, books, magazines, internet sites and social media platforms, it is easy to conclude that talking about Jesus is not the “norm”. So, since God is not at the center of most of American life, Li’l Mo is right in his conclusion. His Granddad does not have “normal” conversations when he brings up Jesus.
GOD’S STANDARD
There’s a popular saying in our world. It goes like this, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In other words, follow the customs of the day wherever you are. Should Christians in America, or any other country in the world, follow the customs of the society? Or are we called to operate outside of that standard? If so, which standard? Well, that’s easy, God’s standard. While Mo’s Granddad did not conform to the American standard, he was conforming to God’s standard. In Romans 12:2 it says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Here, the apostle Paul is warning believers to not continue to think or be like the world. If the world does not talk about Jesus, that does not mean that you shouldn’t. In fact, Jesus tells His believers to go and tell everyone about Him so that they, too, can receive salvation. (Mark 16:15, Matt. 10:7-14, 28:18-20. 1 Peter 3:15) That’s the advice Mo’s Granddad gave him. When Li’l Mo tried to convince his grandfather to stop talking about Jesus because no one else does, Granddad Joe told him that he doesn’t do what everyone does, he does what God tells him to do. When you consider that God made everything and knows everything, I think that’s pretty good advice. So, here’s today’s lesson in a nutshell. If God said it, do it.
Thoughtful Questions: So, what about you? Do you talk about God in some, most or none of your conversations? Do you think that you should if you don’t? If you haven’t, why don’t you give it a try. But you’ll have to do this first: read the Bible. It will give you something to talk about.
DON’T WANT TO HEAR
Li’l Mo is right. Not everyone wants to hear about Jesus. People who love God can talk about Him or listen to others talk about Him all day long and never tire of hearing about Him. Still, others, who don’t believe in Him, or who may not truly know Him, may not feel the same way. But they are the ones who need to hear about Him the most.
TASTE AND SEE
Psalm 34:8 says, O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Mo’s Granddad understands that the only reason people don’t want to hear about Jesus is that they don’t know Him fully. They may know some things about Him, but they haven’t really tasted to see just how good He is. So, how do they do that? They must seek Him with all of their hearts. The Lord promised in Jeremiah 29:13 that if anyone seeks Him, they will find Him, when they seek Him with all their heart. When a person finds Jesus they become born again. That means they have professed that Jesus is God, that He came into the world to die for their sins and that He rose again, defeating death for all who believe in Him. At that moment the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of them and their whole world changes. Instantly they know that God’s Word is true and they can trust Him with their lives on earth and after death. You see, the person who is born again, is filled with God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and that person thirsts for God as if they could never get enough. Psalm 42: 1-2 describes it this way, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
Mo’s Granddad knows that everyone needs Jesus, that He is the only way to God, the Father. That’s why he talks about Jesus all of the time to everyone, even if they don’t want to hear it.
Questions to consider: Have you ever told someone something they didn’t want to hear but you knew it was good for them? What did that feel like? Has anyone done that with you? How did you respond? Have you shared the Gospel message of Salvation with someone? Do you think Jesus wants us to share His message of salvation with only those who want to hear it?
