Our Minds don’t like to Mind
Rom 12:2 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.
Big Topic
Whenever we look at the mind from a Biblical point of view, we have a big topic. The mind must be changed to be saved, that is called repentance. For repentance to be real, there needs to be a corresponding change of behavior but the change of mind comes first. Faith or trust or belief involves the mind. Choices are associated with the mind. Some minds are depraved, but all of our minds need to be renewed. When we look at the matter of renewal in the Bible, it usually means renovation. It is what people do to old houses to make them look like new.
The mind is associated with the inner man and it is associated with a spirit. Paul says, in Ephesians 4:23, “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” This might be better translated “have your mind renovated by the Holy Spirit.” Some seem to think this is referring to what happens immediately upon conversion and translate it “having been renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Others think this is something that occurs as we submit to the Holy Spirit after we are saved and that it has to do with our responsibility. Regardless of a person’s interpretation of the Ephesians passage, Romans 12:2 makes it clear that Christians can be molded by the particular age of our society around us or we can have our minds renewed or renovated. Paul is beseeching Christians to be renewed which tells me that, at least in this letter, being renewed is not automatic. It is a responsibility.
Whatever we Think is Right is usually Wrong
Isaiah tells us, “Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:7-9 NKJV).”
The way we think naturally, is not the way God thinks. That is why the unsaved cannot tell a person how to get to heaven nor can they discern lies, nor can they think in a spiritual way. But as Christians, who have the Spirit of God using the Word of God to guide us, we should be able to start thinking like God thinks. That is the transformation Paul speaks of in Romans 12:2. But is that transformation taking place in our lives?
How many of us really believe that the principles laid out in the Sermon on the Mount really work? How many of us are angry and continue to be angry when we should not let our anger linger so that it becomes grudges? How many of us like to lead by serving? How many of us consider others better than themselves? How many of us are quick to hear and slow to speak? I think you get my drift. I sure need to be “begged” or “beseeched” to allow the Holy Spirit do His work in this area of my life.
I Think
In general when we start a sentence with “I think” we need to take a deep breath and stop. Can we honestly say we are thinking like the Holy Spirit would have us think or are we thinking in a natural unconverted way? Paul warns us in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” When people start a sentence with “I think” or “it seems to me” we are probably listening to philosophy. When they start a sentence with “I don’t believe” and then follow up with some “antiquated” truth from the Bible, we are dealing with empty lies. When people start sentences with “the Bible says,” we should probably start paying attention although Satan tested the Lord by using Scripture out of context. But we who are saved have the Holy Spirit and we should discipline ourselves to have our minds renewed or renovated by the Holy Spirit so that we are not being led by Satan’s messengers instead of by the truth of Scripture.
A Wonderful Thing
The mind is a wonderful thing when it is controlled by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. I can give us peace. It can make us a blessing. But we need to understand that it is easy to let the world control our thinking and when we do that we are headed for disaster.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of December 2, 2018