MIND ORIENTATION - PART 8

WEDNESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2024

No words can suitably express my gratitude for being progressively transformed by the renewing of my mind, for no change in a man's life is as important as this: conforming to the image of Christ - because it positions anyone to understand the intrinsic dynamics of the mental functioning ability in Christ.

For me, it greatly influences how I participate in divine experiences, as well as how I understand and express my Christ-like identity in an increasing degree - within the world around me. Hallelujah!

Therefore, I must continue to look like Jesus daily ~ from a customary indication of His character and mental abilities - by sustaining a devout saintliness through frequent consecration and fasting, by praying without ceasing, and by studying and cogitating on God's Word. 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."

Today's focus is majored on this particular aspect of God's will, namely:

"That which is acceptable."

The word, "acceptable" implies that a subject or an object - is proper for whatever purpose it is considered. More so, that which is acceptable lays down two criteria: Firstly, it refers to someone or something that is made worthy of acceptance. Secondly, it is deemed as pleasing to the receiver, in relation to being satisfactory in a welcoming manner. In the Greek rendering, it is known as apodektos, meaning - acceptable, accepted, favourable, welcome. Evidently, it is someone or something favourably received and approved, on account of being pleasant.

To start with, we can clearly see how we have been accepted in the beloved, emphasizing the importance of our salvation being pleasing to God. To that effect, Ephesians 1:6 reads, "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:5-6 NKJV). So the saints are categorised as the acceptable will of God. How? God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by accepting us in Christ according to the good pleasure of His will. Mark the phraseology: "the good pleasure of His will", which is indicative of the acceptable will of God.

The "good pleasure" of the will of God - implies that our adoption gave Him great pleasure, and in some versified translations, the "acceptable" will of God is used interchangeably with the "pleasing" will of God. To instantiate this verity, the New Living Translation reads, "Do not conform 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" (Romans 12:2 NIV). Simply put, from an observatory intelligence, we can aver that instead of using the term, "acceptable", the word, "pleasing" was applied from a vocable standpoint in NL translation. Advertently, it is God's desire and pleasure that the saints should be accepted in the beloved, namely Christ.

By mindfully projecting our "accepted" condition in Christ to the world around us, we function as the acceptable will of God. And this very consciousness of being accepted in the Beloved puts a stop to any form of inner disharmony and unworthiness that result from being alienated from God. Apart from the saints whose recreated "esse" is acceptable to God in Christ, other options considered as the being the acceptable will of God are to be discussed in the next part of this topic. Stay tuned for part 9. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Romans 15:7; Colossians 1:12-13; 1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14.

Exuberant Declaration:

I resemble the Lord Jesus Christ in the beauty of His ever-advancing glory, in His nature and in His excellencies, and I steadily gain His mindset, for as He is, so am I in this present world. Glory to God!