A Renewed Mind

A Renewed Mind

Actions follow belief.

Absolutely. I can tell what you believe by how you behave. You can do the same of me. Remember when your grandparents told you that "actions speak louder than words?" They were right. Actions tell us whether we believe our own words.

Perhaps 1 John 2:4 states this principle most sucinctly, "Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him..."

James also addresses the issue. "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:17

We act on what we believe.

Over the past few weeks, our discussion among these pages has covered the penultimate, the ultimate, and dependency. That is, we know that our obedience is to tend to the things before the last while our good God has the final matters within His strong hands. "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 1 Cor. 3:6. Additionally, we know that in all matters penultimate, we are completely dependent upon the Lord to equip, strengthen and keep our obedience. In short, He fully performs the duties of covenant from both sides.

This discussion, then, in light of the admonitions of James, John and scripture begs the question: what do we do with this truth? How do we act upon it? Where is there evidence of this knowledge in my actions so that I might have proof of my belief?

Important questions to be sure. And questions that are necessary to ask if we are to conclude our recent discussions with conviction.

The answer is a renewed mind. A renewed mind is the engine that drives the vehicle of action. It is the product and result of belief and it produces evidence of conviction through obedient works.

Romans 12:2 says, “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.

And let's look at a few verses that have been reoccurring in our discussion over the last month, the now familiar Philippians 4:6-9:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Did you catch that? Meditate on these things...think on these things, mull them over, let them simmer in your brain pan. THINK on these things. MEDITATE on these things. On what things? On what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. These are the thoughts of a renewed mind. Whatever happens in our heads will bear fruit through our hands. If we think on these things we will begin to act on these things.

We simply must begin to think about what we are thinking about. The process of renewing our minds does not happen accidentally or coincidentally. The renewal we are seeking is a result of God very purposefully providing us the mind of Christ as we obediently begin to think in the right way. Phil. 2:5. Knowing what you are thinking about and why is a sign of the renewed mind. It is almost impossible for us to engage this renewal if we will not or cannot think about what we are thinking.

But there is more. We are created in the image of God and empowered by His Spirit to understand what we see and hear around us. 1 Cor. 2:14-16. Our ultimate understanding is not left to us to define. It has been defined for us. As such, when we begin to renew our minds, it will not be enough to think about our own thoughts. Through the Spirit of the living God we are enabled to think about God's thoughts. And that, in the end, is the real hallmark of the renewed mind. It is indeed the mind of Christ and, as such, it is the mind that meditates on God's thoughts, on those matters which are true and noble, just and pure, lovely, virtuous, of good report and praiseworthy.

The renewed mind does not come about randomly. It is deliberate, it is a purposeful undertaking and, often, it is a battle. Look at the language Paul uses: "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:3-5.

Taking every thought into submission brings us back to the second half of Romans 12:2, "Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This Spirit led change of thinking will result in action. Testing and approving are action verbs; they imply engagement. Our right thoughts lead to our right actions. Belief and action. We act on what we believe. We see here the answers to the question initially posed: how do we begin to act on truth? We have our minds renewed and our righteous actions are the sure result.

Beth Moore recently wrote: "I have heard people say these words over and over again: 'I cannot change the way I feel.' Oh, that may be true, but you can indeed change the way you think, and that will change the way you feel. We can know the thoughts we think. We can change our minds, and that will change our hearts.” Excerpt From: Giglio, Louie. “PASSION.” Thomas Nelson.

Changed thoughts change hearts. Changed hearts change actions. And the actions of a changed mind and heart can change the world.

I'm ready for the renewal...



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