Renewed Part 3 – Mind

Romans 12:1-2, “1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 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.” (NIV)

Why is it important to renew our mind if we really want to change and transform? When you fill it with positive thoughts, you will start to CHANGE. When you fill it with negative thoughts, you will start to COMPLAIN (and do nothing). Our mind often dictates whether we can or we cannot. And the key to not wasting our life, Paul says, is to be TRANSFORMED.

We should be a better version of ourselves every year. For that to happen, we have to transform and it has to begin with our MINDSET. Paul said in Romans 12:2a, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world…” “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world” DOES NOT mean EXTERNAL avoidance of worldly practices. Why? You can avoid all kinds of worldly behaviors and not be transformed.

Transformation should NOT just be EXTERNAL. Transformation should not just focus on external . Transformation is NOT switching from the To-Do List of the WORLD to the To-Do List of the CHURCH laws.

What’s wrong with the human mind? Why does our mind need renewing? And how can we pursue this renewal of mind?

THE PROBLEM WITH OUR MINDS

There are many who think that the only problem with the human mind is that it doesn’t have access to all the knowledge it needs. So education becomes the great solution — personal and social. The Bible has a far deeper analysis of the problem. The mind has a “spirit.” In other words, our mind has what we call a “MINDSET.” It doesn’t just have a view, it has a viewpoint. It doesn’t just have the power to perceive and detect; it also has a position, a frame, a bent. The problem with our minds is not merely that we are FINITE, but that we are FALLEN. The mind has a spirit, a bent, that is in opposition to the will of God. Our minds are bent on not seeing God as more supreme than we are.

What is sin?

Sin is not just doing what is wrong. Let us read Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (NIV).” Sin is deciding to do our own way and not following God’s way. Sin is following Frank Sinatra’s way – I did it my way. This is what Romans 1:28 mentioned, “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done (NIV).”

HOW DO WE RENEW OUR MIND?

REDIRECT YOUR LIFE TO GOD

Romans 12:1 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…” (NIV)

First, we should offer our whole life to God. Our mind can only be renewed if we are willing to surrender to God. If we will always live our life our way, we can’t renew our mind. It makes sense, we cannot renew our mind if we are not willing to offer our whole life to God. When we are willing to sacrifice our life to God, our mind will transform to be like that of Christ.

RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PLEASING GOD

Romans 12:1 – “…holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (NIV)

We live in a day when people are out to please themselves. Such a dynamic is seen in a ME-centered advertising industry and consumer mentality, in an entertainment oriented media and leisure-driven society, in a self-esteem promoting psychology, and humanistic religion.

The emphasis is on what we deserve and how we can make ourselves on top. In a culture given to an ever-increasing drive to please self, should we not ask the question, “What about pleasing God?” Should we put a real emphasis upon pleasing God? If so, the question remains, “why?”

There is an urgency in pleasing God. First, we need to please God in the grounds of His holiness. God alone is holy. We’re not. Second, God demands that we please Him because He is our Creator. Third, we should please God because we are saved by His Son. Remember, we were saved by the blood of Jesus. In other words, we were bought with the blood of Jesus. If we’re bought by the blood, we are owned by God. If we truly want to please God, renewing our mind will follow. We will surely desire to renew our mind because we don’t want to remain the same.

REMOVE THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD FROM YOUR MIND

Romans 12:2, “ Do not conform to the pattern of this world…” (NIV)

There is always a danger of giving in to the temptations of the world to just feel like being “normal” in our modern society. Today, it is easier to try to fit in, blend in and give in to the popular trends in the world rather than to live by Biblical principles. Let us be honest to ourselves, we have been living in a pattern made by people of this world. This is why it is normal to sin. It is normal to rebel. It is normal to lie to our parents or spouse. It is normal to hurt other people’s feelings.

Practical tips that we can do to remove the pattern of this world and replace it with God’s pattern:

First, Choose one character trait per week that you need to change or improve. Second, Remind yourself everyday to do a personal checkup. Third, Replace negative thoughts with Scripture from the Bible. Read the Bible everyday. Try to meditate on verses that speak to you. The best way to upgrade yourself is by reading and meditating on the Scripture. If you’re worrying, read verses about God’s faithfulness. If you’re hurting inside, read verses about God’s love. If you’re concerned about your finances, read verses about God’s promise.