"Be Transformed By The Renewing Of
Your Mind" Romans 12:2b
I remember a commercial that was on TV several years ago. It
was promoting Education and it went like this; "A Mind
Is A Terrible Thing To Waste". I could not agree more,
but I know there is much more to it than the commercial
depicted. There is a strong spiritual truth to the phrase.
For the Child of God, the only way to be productive, and
confident, is to have the Mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16 says;
"we have the mind of Christ" also there is Phil
2:5 that says; "Let this mind be in you which was also
in Christ Jesus". These verses say we are to think like
Jesus Christ. In the original Greek, the command is in the
form of the verb phroneite, "to think or be minded in a
certain way". Our mind is to have the same characteristics
that Christ has, ("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." Rom. 12:2)...
D. L. Moody said; the Bible was not given to increase our
knowledge, but to change our lives. Our mind has to be
renewed everyday. The only way it can be renewed is by
spending time in prayer with the One who created us and
by meditating on the Word of God. We need to ask God for
the "Mind of Christ". God has a standard for our
minds. Six times the New Testament describes what the
Christians mind set should be. In each of the following
passages the mind is mentioned. As you read these scriptures
about the mind, check and see if these adjectives describe
your mind.
- ALIVE - Romans 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is
death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace".
The mind that is alive chooses to be led by the Spirit of God
and not the flesh.
- PEACEFUL - The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.
The spiritual mind is peaceful. Peace is a fruit not an attainment.
Our work is setting the mind. God's work is the peace. Sin
separates us from God, the Source of our peace.
- SINGLE MINDED - 2 Cor 11:3-4 "But I fear, lest somehow,
as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ". Paul is
telling us the mind of Christ is single mindedness. When Peter
tried to turn Christ away from the Cross, He rebuked Peter
sternly (Matt. 16:23) because of His mind was set on Jerusalem
and the objective was the Cross (Lk. 9:51). He was single minded.
Near the end of His life Jesus said He accomplished what He was
sent to do (Jn. 17:4) Christ allowed nothing to deflect or
distract what the Father gave Him to do. Are we the same in
our devotion to God?
- LOWLY - Phil 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself". We can foster lowliness by
concentrating on a genuine appreciation for the person of God.
Immature thoughts are self-centered and self-seeking. Pray to
have the quality of lowliness of life.
- PURE - Titus 1:15-16 "To the pure all things are pure,
but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure;
but even their mind and conscience are defiled". Here
purity is described as the natural state of the Christian.
Impurity is reached by corruption. Out safest course is to
avoid temptation entirely, but our culture has made that
difficult. There is a constant assault of information on our
senses. Tempters have always abounded, but they now have much
more resources within our environment. Overcoming is a prior
act. Know ahead of time which are your greatest weaknesses.
- SENSITIVE & RESPONSIVE - John 8:28 "I do nothing
of Myself; but as My Father taught Me". As the Father is
to the Son, so Christ is to be to us. He imitated the Father,
We are to be imitators of Christ. He heard from the Father, We
are to hear from Him. Pray that God will make you more sensitive
to Him.
Your Heavenly Fathers goal is for you to mature and develop
the character of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble
service. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional
commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, and persist
in growing. Discipleship, the process of becoming like Christ.
It always begins with a decision. Jesus said in, John 13:17
"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do
them".
Remember that a "mind is a terrible thing to waste".
Debbie Fondren
