TAKING CARE OF OUR MIND

Ephesians 4:17-18 NIV  So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  (18)  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

I am afraid that there are many Christians today who underestimate the importance of the mind.  We look at Christianity SOLELY as a working of the heart.  As long as my heart prays, sings, has faith in God and feels good, then my Christianity is ok.  Take note:  I said SOLELY as a working of the heart.  Presenting our heart before the Lord, our inner man, is essential.  Taking care of our heart is important.

Proverbs 4:23 NIV  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Colossians 3:1-3 NIV  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  

We are to set our hearts on things above, yes.  But have you ever noticed verse 2-3?  

(2)  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  (3)  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

We are to set our MINDS on things above, not earthly things.  This is because we have been raised with Christ!  We are a new creation.  We are not of this world anymore ever since our hearts have been born again.

This is why both our HEART and our MIND are essential to the believer.

Our thinking, our understanding, of God and the life He wants us to live, in contrast to the life of this world, is important.  The difference between how a Christian thinks, how we understand things, compared to this world, is a major fruit that a true believer bears in his life.

Sadly, many Christians do not take care of their minds.  We spend more time listening or reading the news, opinions of other people, the emotions of the world, rather than the Word of God.

Because many Christians do not take care of their minds spiritually the thinking of the world takes over.  We have become “social media Christians”, satisfied with the beautifully crafted verses of Scripture that are posted, quotes from famous pastors, and yet do not spend quality time with God reading and meditating upon His Word.  We do not make time to read chapter upon chapter, book upon book, of God’s Word, and spending time with other believers and discussing Scripture and learning from one another.

And what happens is it takes its toll upon our minds.  Our view of the world, of current events, of situations and problems are all formed by what the world says, rather than what God says.  We are swayed by the emotion of people, rather than the words of God.  We see things as the world sees, rather than how God sees.  As Jesus said when He rebuked Peter - "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" Mark 8:33

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians he strongly insisted that Christians do not live as the Gentiles do.  But notice that his focus was not just in the actions, but in the thinking:

Ephesians 4:17-18 NIV  So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  (18)  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

The futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding.  A Christian who is growing in God’s word eventually realizes that the way the people of the world think, the way they understand things, are totally different to how the Lord wants us to think, to understand life and it’s circumstances.  The way the world thinks leads them to actions that are separated from the life of God.  And Paul was firm in saying – this is not how we should live.

A Christian sharpens his or her mind with God’s Word, so that God’s will becomes clear to us.  Not because we have to, but because God’s will becomes our very desire, the very goal of our life.

Romans 12:2 NIV  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.

God renews our mind everyday, so that His will becomes clear to us, and that we may walk in it and live lives that are pleasing to Him.

Are we submitting to that working of God – both in our hearts and minds?

Let’s take care of our minds, brethren, and fill it with God and His Word, that it may be reflected in our words and our actions.

Colossians 3:16-17 NIV  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  (17)  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.