Romans 12:2 And do 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.
For the Christian, this world is always seeking to conform you to its system. The pursuit of material things, the making of money and the spending of time on worthless things that do not satisfy.
The Holy Spirit is seeking to transform our minds by the meditation and study of God’s Word. By the immersion of our minds into a daily study of the Bible, we find that our way of thinking and even incorrect preconceived ideas begin to change over time.
I have heard the statement made by those who do not know the Lord, that we Christians have been”Brain Washed”. Whenever I hear that statement, I always tell those who say such things that I agree.
When I first found Jesus and discovered the wonder of His Word, I began to read voraciously the Bible every single day. I realized that my mind was full of all kinds of garbage from the world that had been placed there little by little, over the course of many years.
I needed the Holy Spirit to take a big old hose and wash out my mind and cleanse it of all the former junk I had learned and been exposed to. If you had lived in the world for any number of years before you came to know Jesus, then you know what I am talking about. Something filthy and vile that you saw with your eyes 20 or 30 years ago can suddenly appear as a thought or a picture in your mind, at any time for any reason. The garbage of our former life can never be eliminated unless it is cleansed with the washing of the water by the Word of God.
Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word...
After the death of Moses, the mantle of leadership passed from Moses to Joshua. In chapter 1 of the book of Joshua, the Lord instructed Joshua to do the following:
Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
The Lord knows that He can most effectively use those men and women who have taken the time to prepare themselves in the Word of God. Many times, it takes several years of study and meditation in the Bible before anyone of us can be effectively used.
Paul studied under the greatest old testament scholar of his day. Gamaliel literally immersed Paul in an intense study of the scriptures. Later, when Jesus saved Paul and sent him to the Gentiles, Paul stated that it was because of his exposure in the scriptures that God was able to send Him out to tell others about Jesus.
Acts 22:3 I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.
Acts 22:21 Then He said to me, “Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.”
As you take your walk with Jesus today, remember to take the time to open up your Bible and spend some quality time meditating on the Word of God. Ask the Lord what the verse means and how He would have you apply those words to your own life. Even before you begin to study, ask the Holy Spirit to open up your mind and give you the wisdom to understand what you are reading.
1Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
Finally, remember that whatever you put into your mind, look at with your eyes and listen to with your ears, will affect every part of your life. Choose today to put those good and righteous things of God into your mind so that you can be transformed. Instead of dwelling in the things of the world which will surely conform you to its way of thinking, be transformed by the Word of God every single day.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Rob Robinson
