MIND ORIENTATION - PART 5

SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2024

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."

The mind realm is where we realize and visualise what we have not yet seen in the natural - as spiritually visible. On account of this truth, the renewing of your mind with the right materials is vitally inevitable or pivotally indispensable, if you must experience absolute moral excellence that leads to significant godly growth in all areas of life.

As the revelation of God's truth becomes clearer in your mind, you gain the moral power to produce the fruits of righteousness outwardly. Why? The image of Christ has been imparting your mind and heart through your continued lifestyle of conscious fellowship with the Godhead. Before I go further in my expository enlightenment, there is a question we must answer properly, and that is: What is the real meaning of this word "image"? In Greek lexicon, it is called "eikón" which denotes likeness, representation, resemblance and identity, like making reference to "Identical twins."

So "Image" is a not word taken as the expression of relations between Christ and the saints, but rather, it denotes being the same in resemblance, and in likeness both in inward and outward form, especially with regard to a spiritual conformity with God. The word "Image" is a more guaranteed or exact figure in visible conformity, but the word "Likeness" is more of a general term, indicating a resemblance in any quality or form, whether external or internal.

Although both of them can be interchangeably used, the former, which is "image" is preferably accurate in the context of this topic. To instantiate this verity from Scriptural standpoint, Hebrews 1:3 reads that Christ Jesus is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His person...(NKJV).

Christ Jesus is an eternal being, who essentially manifested in the world as the radiance or effulgence of God's glory, as well as the exact representation of His nature. The appearance He displayed on earth is the perfect visible image of God. Now through our inextricable union with Christ, we can persistently develop His attributes which constitute His spiritual nature, His character and His image, through an unending life of fellowship with the God of divine nature.

Establishing a godly mental orientation has nothing to do with becoming an innocent-looking person, or a very fresh Christian in appearance. It has more to do with your soul and spirit. To that effect, Pauline epistolary expression numbered as 2nd Corinthians 4:16 reads, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day" (NIV). Why do we renew the inward witness day by day? It is so that we would not be experiencing an irregular representation of Christ's image. Stay tuned for part 6. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:6; Ephesians 4:20-24; Philippians 1:6.

Guided Prayer:

I function in the fear of God - with a reverential mind in God's presence, due to an effectual change being perfected in me, which comes from the renewing of my mind. Praise God!