Let’s reflect on God’s sovereign power in establishing His purpose in and through us, as illustrated in 2 Samuel 2:8. Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel. This narrative is a powerful reminder of God’s divine plan and how it unfolds in our lives, including renewing our minds.
2 Samuel 6-11 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. 7 Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 8 Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, “Am I a dog’s head—on Judah’s side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven’t handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! 9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.” 11 Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
Today, we delve into a topic of profound significance: renewal of the mind. This theme, which we explored last Sunday and in our Wednesday conversations, is crucial to our understanding of our relationship with God as our Father. As His beloved sons, we play an active role in deepening our connection with Him through studying His Word. This study allows us to comprehend His nature, attributes, and character, thereby gaining wisdom and insight into our own identity, purpose, and direction in life. We were created in His image and likeness, and through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we are restored to the image of God the Father, becoming His sons once again. As we engage with the Living Word of God through His Spirit and in communion with one another, our minds are renewed and transformed.
Romans 12:2 guides us not to conform to the world’s ways but to transform our minds through renewal. This renewed mind is not just a passive state, but it empowers us to discern what is good and acceptable in accordance with God’s will. Therefore, we must not underestimate the power of our faith and the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Renewing our minds is not a mere academic exercise; it is a matter of faith, a powerful force that can transform our lives.
Hebrews 11 states that one must believe He exists to come to God. There is no other way but to believe! Hebrews 4 verse 2 tells us, 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the creation of the world.
Faith and obedience go hand in hand. When we commit ourselves to a saving faith, we accept the responsibility that comes with it. We can learn from the examples of our forefathers, such as David and Goliath, who demonstrated their commitment through their actions. Saving faith leads to ongoing godly results, and true faith is shown by our willingness to take obedient action, as we see in the inspiring stories of faith in the hall of faith in Hebrews 11. We know that the people spoke of in Hebrews 4 did not mix the promise/word of God with faith, and therefore, they did not reach the promised land; Joshua and Caleb did) NET says they did not join in with those who heard it in faith, we know they heard in faith because of the actions they took (examples in Abraham and Noah). The Message version warns us in the same chapter to be careful not to be disqualified!
Hebrews 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
We submit ourselves to the influence of the Word of God and listen attentively to our Father’s voice so that our souls can experience the life that our Father intended for us. I constantly remind myself of this truth because just as we must first learn addition and subtraction before multiplication and division, we must first understand our identity as children of God to comprehend our purpose and how to fulfill His will for our lives. This understanding is essential to entering the kingdom of God and our subsequent engagement with it.
My spirit is filled with light from God’s word, and this word is imprinted upon my soul, which includes my mind (thinking and understanding), will (decisions and choices), and emotions (how I feel). It is in this domain that the renewal of the mind takes place. Scriptures like the one by Paul demonstrate how this renewal occurs. Renewing the mind in Christ has a profound impact on one’s character. For instance, “A person who once stole no longer does so.” instead, they will work. This is not just for themselves but also for sharing with others, which is a complete shift in mindset from the worldly culture that often prioritizes self-preservation, even among those who work.
Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
“I am reflecting on Psalm 116, where David expresses his unwavering faith in God even in times of affliction. He writes, ‘I believe, and so I speak,’ which Paul later quotes. It’s interesting to see David commanding his soul to return to a position of rest and confidence that God is in control. The Psalm is a powerful reminder of the strength of faith.”
2 Corinthians 4:13 But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.
The topic at hand is identity. In Philippians 2:5, we are urged to have the same mindset as Christ. To achieve this, it’s essential that we understand His mind, and the Word is the means through which we can access this knowledge. When we receive this information by faith and process it in our hearts, it becomes part of our daily living. It’s worth noting the importance of doctrine in this journey. Doctrine is a body of teaching that presents a systemized truth that is widely accepted as a standard of truth. Jesus Christ (PERSON) is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. He dwells in me by faith.
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