In Romans 12:1,2 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.”
We find that here is a prerequisite for the renewal of the mind: Offer your bodies as living sacrifices … which is your spiritual worship”. This is expressed movingly in the old hymn
Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days, let the flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, an let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King;
Take my lips and let them be fille with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine:
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store:
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
So, how do we become renewed in our minds?
First, we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God (which is our spiritual worship).
Then, 2 Cor. 10:5 says – “… we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Phil. 4:8 tells us – “…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”.
Isaiah 8:11-13 says – “The Lord spoke to me with a strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: ‘Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear…”
We seek God’s perspective on everyone and everything. We do not speak the language of the world on anyone or anything, because we do not fear what they fear, nor interpret things as they do. We speak God’s truth into the political correctness of our time.
Finally – “Be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18).
Paul writes in Gal. 5:22,23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” This is the mind of Christ worked out in us by His Spirit, which has been given to us freely.
As we offered our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, we must offer our mind. We must be vigilant and ban all thoughts that follow the pattern of the people of this world.
Gal. 5:25, 26 informs us – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Phil. 2:5 says – You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God is something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave …”
O God, I offer you my body and my mind. I want to think your thoughts, see through your eyes. Change my attitudes, my character. Teach me to be humble, patient, kind and gentle. Work out your will in me by transforming my mind. “Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee”.
Amen
Elzeth Malherbe