MIND ORIENTATION - PART 2

WEDNESDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2024

When a man is born again, that man becomes a perfect new creature, because the Spirit of God indwells him. However he needs to acquire the mind that is in Christ Jesus, which is to be demonstrated by a life and conversation that align with His precepts and example. More below!

Reference: Romans 12:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

In today's article, I'm grateful to expound the first segment in the above versified reference: "And do not be conformed to this world."

When we receive God's salvation and righteousness, we are empowered with the dominion to live for Christ, but those Christians who don't move or function beyond conformity with the pattern of this world, do not fully benefit from the gifts and power of the new creation.

Beloved, if you are born again, let Biblical truths markedly shine in your mind because embracing your new identity in Christ is dependent on your mind orientation. Cheerlessly, retaining an unspiritual or mundane identity is intended to account for how a Christian can remain the same in character or in "ci-devant" manner of conduct over time. So you must observe to powder the aura of your mind with solemn virtues by mixing it with spiritual realities. How?

Don't conform to the world, but rather conform to the Word. To that effect, Joshua 1:8 reads, "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do" (NLT). To be transformed by the renewing of your mind, there are new major types of conformity involved, namely:

1. Study the Word to appropriate the purpose,

2. Cogitate on the Word to internalize the purpose,

3. Obey the Word to identify with your new realities.

Firstly, the studying process helps to correctly ascertain and perceive the denotation, connotation and explication, thereby comprehending the word of truth (see 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

Secondly, the cogitative attention we give to the Word exerts the deepest influence on our Christian faith. It is the process of making the attitude of divine nature part of your functioning ability by conscious assimilation.

Thirdly, the obeying part is result-oriented, meaning that it is designed to yield lasting result. Significantly, it leads to the essence of prospering and succeeding in all you do.

Our new conformity is the act of revolutionizing the attitude of the mind, belief system, and former behavioural values - with the mind of the Spirit, modelled after the very will and likeness of God: truthful, righteous, and holy.

To instantiate this verity, Pauline epistolary expression numbered as Ephesians 4:22-24 reads, "then, so far as your former way of life is concerned, you must strip off your old nature, because your old nature is thoroughly rotted by its deceptive desires; and you must let your spirits and minds keep being renewed, and clothe yourselves with the new nature created to be godly, which expresses itself in the righteousness and holiness that flow from the truth" (CJB). Stay tuned for part 3. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:2; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 John 2:15.

Exuberant Declaration:

I bless God for my persistent commitments to gaining renewed mind which are adaptably consistent with God's will and perfect plan for my life. Hallelujah!