To Be Renewed
By: Ashley Thomas
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. Galatians 6: 2-4.
It’s a familiar statement often said that is all in the mind. The mind doesn’t just think as some understand, the mind is able to feel as well, for example you can love something so much, that you just can’t imagine being without it. Those thoughts of joy and delight that cause chemistry in you to start flowing, emanated from your mind. As in joy and delight, the mind can also experience great trauma. That is why modern day medication understands this important aspect and therefore is able to numb the sense factor, to help many cope with what would be otherwise great pain.
Our mind is what God had in mind to restore. Since the fall of man, the mind has become flesh centred rather than Word centred. Speak that way to some of your friends and you probably be met with a puzzling look. The fleshly mind only understands things that pertain to itself, therefore it is self governed. Let me explain - a self governed individual, makes decisions on what they perceive to be in their overall best interest. Sometimes they like their decisions, and sometimes they don’t. If they don’t, they have regrets and if they do they are joyous. However there are problems with self government, because sin always rebels against any form of rule. We call it lawlessness - oh the law is good as long as it applies to someone else. The moment it applies to us, we seek ways to change the rules. We will find ways to justify our actions and what we would discover in the end is that the flesh is altogether corrupt and it refuses to change no matter what.
There remains only one way to have a change of mind - and that is to renew the way it thinks by a new source. This source is the truth that liberates one from paying servitude to self. Instead it transforms the mindset that it no longer desires self gratification. And yes you guessed it, this source is indeed the Living Word of God. Through daily intake of the Word, a fresh perspective is given. Instead of being a slave to something that controls us, we discover what it means to be really free. No longer mastered by anything but liberated to serve God in joy and peace.
A renewed mind is what you and I need continually. I know discarding the fleshly mind is never an easy thing to do, yet there is a way for us to bring that mind over into submission to Christ. Some of you would say - but how? The answer lies with humility, a desire to humble/lower yourself before an almighty God. A proud person does not know how to exercise this trait and remains alienated from God’s life. But the humble are not only raised to life, they receive much power and grace to help them walk in this new path that God delights in.
Are you longing for a renewed mind? Lower yourself before God. If you think much of yourself, think less and when you can do so, you will discover the greatness of God and what He has to bestow upon your life. Ephesians 4:1-3 ” … I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Amen!
Ashley Thomas http://www.ariseshine.org.au is the lead pastor of an emerging church in Brisbane Australia and is the writer of Praise The Lord It’s Friday a weekly article of life and encouragement.