Transformed Minds

“My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.”  ~Psalm 119:139

I believe that God’s Word transforms us from the inside out.  As we read of God’s mercy and love, some of that same mindset rubs off on us.  The more we dig into the mind of Christ by studying His words, the more like Him we become.  We subconsciously begin to adopt the same mindset.  We've heard it said “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” (or something like that).  It’s the same with the Scriptures.  If we make Jesus Christ our best friend and spend as much time as possible in the Word, we will be transformed.  As we renew our minds, with the Scriptures, our thoughts, actions, and words will be changed.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”  Where can we see the glory of God manifested?  God’s Word!

Colossians 3:10 says something similar: “And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.”  This new self is renewed (changed, transformed) by the knowledge of God.  Where perhaps could this knowledge be attained?  The Scriptures, of course!

Now, because of the fall, our minds need transforming.  We inherently hate those who hate us.  Even my three-year-old sister (well, three at the time) understands this.  A young man got a little annoyed with her, because she kept nagging him. After that, she kept saying “I don’t want to sit next to him” and just generally had an attitude of dislike.  That’s human nature.

But to show love for someone who hates us, that’s from God.  In his everlasting mercy and compassion, God loves everyone, both friends and enemies.  Romans 5:8 demonstrates God’s immaculate love: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Indeed, as 1 John 4:8 says, God is love!

Thus, as David spends time with God, through the Word and prayer, his mind was transformed.  His thoughts began to be aligned to the will of God.  And it wasn’t that he wished the best for his enemies (as Psalm 119:139 says) because he knew it was the right thing to do.  He genuinely wanted them to know God.  In fact, he was zealous for this.  His heart was burdened with sorrow because these people had forgotten God’s Word.  Remember, this wasn’t something he just did naturally.  Rather, he adopted this mindset because of the many hours spent in the Word of God.

You and I too have fleshly ideas and perceptions.  Our minds are set on ourselves.  We think of the things of the earth.  We’re focused on the temporary.  We need a different mindset.  As Christians, we must strive to think differently than this world.  Indeed, Romans 8:8 says, “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” 

Philippians 2:5 lays the standard: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

But because of our fleshly nature and sinfulness, we keep turning our focus back to ourselves.  We keep turning our focus back to ourselves and back to worldly things.  And, as Romans 8:6 says, this leads to death.  We need God’s grace and His Spirit to transform us, using the Scriptures.  We must, as Paul said, “ Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3).  In order to do this, we must be reading the Scriptures.  If we want to become like Christ, daily Bible reading is imperative.  This is the key to unlocking a life free from worry, pride, anger, and bitterness.  We must be diligent studiers of the Word.  We must let it transform us.  Are you?  Are you and I adhering to the command to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).  Open the book!