When God made man, He made him different from all the animals, because He had a different purpose for him. He created us in his own image. We have heart, soul, mind and body. His purpose for us was to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength (body). Mark 12:30.
But when man disobeyed God, he was corrupted in heart, soul, mind and body. And that is how we all are born – with a heart deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jer. 17:9), a soul that craves fleshly satisfaction, a mind veiled and darkened, and a body prone to decay and death.
But paise God, through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, we can born again. Even though our bodies break down and die, we live forever. God removed our heart of stone and gave us a soft heart, pure and righteous. God’s Spirit in us subdues the fleshly soul and lifts our soul into communion with God. Jesus removes the veil over our mind and renews it so that we learn to think differently, to abandon sinful mental patterns and focus on heavenly realities.
Rom. 8:5-7 says … the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.
What lives in your heart and mind? Is it life and peace or is it darkness and death. Prov. 23:7 says – “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Paul urges believers “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Phil. 4:8) Is this what fills your mind and your heart? Or do you carry heavy burdens of worry, anxiety, hurt and blame? Do you watch the news or listen to conversations on current affairs and become restless, hopeless and resentful?
In Romans 12, Paul says, “… I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
1 Cor. 2:16 states – “We have the mind of Christ”. When you and I were born again, the Spirit of God brought the mind of Christ into us. Ever since He has been working out the transformation of our darkened mind into the mind of Christ.
The question is: Do I spend time in the presence of God, so that He can transform my thoughts and desires, my character, my will?
We have been given the mind of Christ. But we cannot transform our mind. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us to indwell us. We need to make sure that we are filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18) – that He has full control of our lives, so that He is able to transform our minds into the mind of Christ. Rom. 12:2 tells us – “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Father God, thank you for sending us your Spirit to teach us, guide us, transform our minds into the mind of our Lord Jesus Christ. We want to know you perfect will for the world and for every moment of our lives. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Amen
Elzeth Malherbe