.."That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts: and be renewed in the spirit of your mind: and that ye put on the new man, after which God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24
The restructuring principle for displacing old nature habit patterns of sinful living with new nature habit patterns of righteousness rests on the renewing of the mind. That important Christian discipline does not occur simply by initial information, but by subsequent meditation and submission. The question to ask, on a continuing basis, about everything to which our senses relate, is that which has been presented in God's Word. It is simply, "What saith the Scripture?"
If I am to displace lying with truth- telling, when I ask that question, I will embrace Ephesians 4:25, which says "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another."
Since the Holy Spirit of God wrote those words, and ministers them to the born again believer in whom he resides, upon meditation, the mind is renewed through the Scriptures by the Spirit. It is then, that the believer yields, or submits to that with which his mind is now renewed, and a changed life of biblical restructure is seen by all, giving glory to God.
When the issue being faced is one of righteous living as opposed to former unrighteousness, the question is asked, "What saith the Scripture?", Galatians 5:16 is meditated upon, having been renewed in the spirit of my mind, I will submit to walking in the Spirit, according to the words of Scripture, and will not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
If attitude or perspective issues are to be considered, and the question is asked, "What saith the Scripture?", Isaiah 26:3 becomes my meditation, and with my mind stayed on the Lord, my heart knows the perfect peace of God. What a blessing to rest on the promises of God!
(C) 2014 N.A.Collins Limited copy permission to one personal file copy
The restructuring principle for displacing old nature habit patterns of sinful living with new nature habit patterns of righteousness rests on the renewing of the mind. That important Christian discipline does not occur simply by initial information, but by subsequent meditation and submission. The question to ask, on a continuing basis, about everything to which our senses relate, is that which has been presented in God's Word. It is simply, "What saith the Scripture?"
If I am to displace lying with truth- telling, when I ask that question, I will embrace Ephesians 4:25, which says "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another."
Since the Holy Spirit of God wrote those words, and ministers them to the born again believer in whom he resides, upon meditation, the mind is renewed through the Scriptures by the Spirit. It is then, that the believer yields, or submits to that with which his mind is now renewed, and a changed life of biblical restructure is seen by all, giving glory to God.
When the issue being faced is one of righteous living as opposed to former unrighteousness, the question is asked, "What saith the Scripture?", Galatians 5:16 is meditated upon, having been renewed in the spirit of my mind, I will submit to walking in the Spirit, according to the words of Scripture, and will not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
If attitude or perspective issues are to be considered, and the question is asked, "What saith the Scripture?", Isaiah 26:3 becomes my meditation, and with my mind stayed on the Lord, my heart knows the perfect peace of God. What a blessing to rest on the promises of God!
(C) 2014 N.A.Collins Limited copy permission to one personal file copy