Month: July 2023

Read it out loud and absorb it

July 12, 2023

At my last church I Pastored the Elders understood that some weeks as a Pastor you are really busy with people, extra training, planning or prayer.

In those weeks it was okay for me to just read a passage of Scripture and share a couple of brief thoughts. At first I found this hard, but slowly I realised that while preaching is a key part of a Pastors work, sometimes the best thing I can do is just read out Scripture and let it be absorbed by the people.

This is an example of a passage I might read on those weeks…

Psalm 103:8-18 NLT
[8] The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. [11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [13] The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. [15] Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. [16] The wind blows, and we are gone- as though we had never been here. [17] But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children [18] of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!

Renewing our minds is so vital

July 5, 2023

Romans 12:2 NLT says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

I was just looking at some commentaries for Romans 12:2. I really like what the Vine’s Expository Dictionary says the Greek word for renewing in the original text of this verse…

“The Greek word translated “renewing” (Romans 12:2), anakainōsis, is used sparsely in the New Testament. It means “a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.” Rather than surrendering to the normal patterns of this world—“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16)—believers in Jesus are to constantly undergo “adjustment of moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God.” How so? By the Holy Spirit’s renewal (see Titus 3:5), which “is not a fresh bestowment of the Spirit but a revival of His power, developing the Christian life”.”

I like that the thought behind a renewing of our minds is more like a complete change or full renovation. It is not like a quick paint job one does to a car or house to tidy it up. It is a complete restoration rather than a makeover.

As I think of this I think of some of the car shows I watch. They take an old rusty car, cut out the rust and weld in new metal to make it like the rust was never there. They might also replace the engine, chassis and suspension. In the end a 50 year old car is actually often better than it was when it came from the factory.

I think this is type of renewing we need as Christians. Our minds are impacted so much by this world and culture we live in. Right and wrong becomes blurred and people have their own truths. What we need is God to renew our minds by His Word and His Spirit. We need to be lifted out of this worldly thinking and transplanted into His Kingdom way of thinking.

Renewing our minds is just so vital for us as Christians. We need it to fully understand what God wants us to do. It is a key foundation in being the people who God wants us to be.

Prayer

Dear God, help me to renew my mind. I pray that when I read the Bible the Holy Spirit will quicken the Words to my heart and mind. I want to be changed from the inside out. I want to walk in Your ways, love others the way You do and know Your good, pleasing and perfect will in my life. I ask in Jesus name, Amen.