Understanding is only part of it. . . .

 

For about seventeen years, I read the Bible every day without understanding anything in it. Then came that day when Jesus entered my life. It was not a request on my part; He surprised me. After that day, after realizing who Jesus is and why He came, I began to understand what I was reading.

Today’s devotional says it is good to read the Bible regularly, learn the facts of Bible history, memorize as much of the Bible as you can and study the blessed doctrines of the Bible, then adds that it is possible to do all this yet gain no spiritual benefit. The author says this benefit comes only to the degree that we understand it. The author adds that this understanding can only be gained by the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:11–16)

Various lists tell how the mind of Christ affects a believer’s life. For instance, any love for worldly things will change. Instead of the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, the mind of Christ calls me to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of my mind” for this will help me discern the will of God and what is “good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Another list says His mind creates a humble, submissive, and obedient faith. The list of spiritual fruit point to new attitudes that include love for others, peace in my heart, joy, and more (Galatians 5:22-23).

Included in that ‘love for others’ is a new desire to seek their salvation by sharing with them His love in action and words that explain the good news of the gospel.

Another example of what will change: New knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done, submission to His lordship expressed in obedience, trusting Him alone and not my own works, or goodness, or my efforts, along with a deepening rejection of sin and not wanting to run my own life.

As the book of James says, this thinking is more than new attitudes. It creates new actions such as caring for the needs of widows, orphans, the poor, and not being a respecter of persons but treating all with the same loving care.

For this reason, I’m convinced that I cannot limit the changes in my life to attitude only or even understanding. While actions flow from the heart, if they are not there, I have to look in the mirror (God’s Word) and not forget what I see, but do something about it.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:22–27)

PRAY: Lord, I’ve known for a long time that thinking and saying what I know is good, but doing it is vital. It is often easier to keep my mouth shut when I want to speak, or keep my mental focus on You rather than worldly or selfish stuff, than it is to simply do what You say. May Your mind rule my actions as well as all other parts of my life.

Winning some battles means first surrendering . . .

1 Samuel 28; Psalm 45; Ezekiel 7; 1 Corinthians 9

A few years ago I wrote a poem about temptation using chocolate cake as the object of my affection. Since then, I discovered that taking magnesium supplements removed the lure of chocolate. I still like it but no longer crave it. However, the desire to eat too much often looms. This week, my focus verses have twice told me to deal with this issue:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

The first focus page gave this description: “Discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest the desires of the flesh ruin me for service by pulling me into such sin as lust, idolatry, or complaining.”

The second instance said this: “Trust Christ to control all natural desires and appetites lest I be ruined for service by over-indulgence.”

Putting the two thoughts together explains how self-control in the Bible is different from that ‘grit your teeth and say no’ self-control that most of us associate with the term. Scripture describes it as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, meaning that when I am living according to or in the power of God’s Spirit, I will not be doing the selfish and fleshy things that come from my old nature.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

This Holy Spirit controlled life is natural, not governed by rules or laws. Love flows out without thinking “I must love this person” and joy, peace and the other qualities listed are just the way I am, without trying. My part is to cooperate, not let the flesh determine how I react to issues and people.

For me, the areas of temptation to run my own life are the last two. I can be harsh and unthinking when it comes to my reactions to those who step on my toes, but the worst is self-control. I must say NO to harshness but also to a second helping of pie or to eating something salty when salt is bad for my heart.

I know I cannot be loving all the time without Jesus. I know that He is the source of that deep joy and peace that is almost unnatural even in trouble and bad situations. I also know that He gives patience and every other quality in this list, but when it comes to staying out of the frig, my desire to munch takes over. I’m not obese, but I easily could be.

Some of the problem is controlled by having a pacemaker to control a severe A-Fib and the fact that if I gain even two pounds, it takes a toll on my energy level. However, this is not the biblical reason for being self-controlled. It is so I will be always ready, willing and able to serve others. Self-control covers all sorts of indulgences and excuses. Without it, doing my own thing will wipe out doing anything for others and for Jesus.

APPLY: I can pray to be filled with the Spirit after confessing all known sin. God is telling me to include the sin of self-indulgence when it comes to excesses at the dinner table, or whenever I feel like munching on something that my body does not need. This is a battle that requires surrender — before it even starts.