Wisdom Wednesday : The Mind of Wisdom – Part 12
Summary on The Mind
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.” Mt 22:36–38..”(NASB 95)
In this series, we have surveyed the role of the mind in loving the Lord with all of our mind. We have learned that the wise mind is the mind that is renewed by God’s Spirit and applied to the fear and love of the Lord.
God knows our thoughts, intent and will, as David instructed his son, Solomon: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.” (1 Chron. 28:9).
- We are to remember God’s faithfulness in our mind (Deut. 30:11) and this gives hope to our mind (Lam. 3:21).
- We allow God to place concepts in our mind (Neh. 2:12; cf. Psalm 16:9) as He has done in “visions” envisioned by prophets (e.g. Dan. 7:1). In our mind, we are able conceive plans that are guided by God. (Prov. 16:9; 1 Chron. 28:12).
- By learning God’s Word, we are to gain a mind of wisdom with a “breadth of mind” or great understanding (1 Kings 4:29; Job 38:36).
Our mind can be opened to understand and reason (1 Cor. 14:14–19) and we are exhorted to control our mind (Romans 8:6–7). Our minds and hearts must be open to see and act on the truth of Scripture. Jesus emphasized the truth throughout His ministry, and God’s truth can be apprehended by an open mind and a willing heart.
As believers, we are to focus our mind’s attention on things “above” by rejoicing, relaxing, requesting, and reckoning on these specific things. We are also exhorted to continually renew our mind so our outward behavior will produce visible results that Paul describes as the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Our mind should become steadfast, referring to a mind whose thoughts are rested on God, as Isaiah assured us, will bring perfect peace to our mind.
We are privileged to have the “Mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2:16) as we learn and think God’s thoughts revealed in Scripture. We gain this by asking for wisdom (James 1:5) to apply His wisdom, listening to His Spirit and walking in God’s ways.
But we must avoid dangerous pathologies of the mind and heart. Blindness to God’s Word, doublemindedness (duplicity), conformity to the world, and depravity are pathologies of the mind we must evade. And the danger of hardness of the willful heart must be rejected, as we yield a softened heart to the Lord.
Let us endeavor to gain a wise mind of Christ that is controlled by the heart, renewed by God’s Spirit and applied to the fear and love of the Lord.
