Intangibles: Views and Opinions
Wednesday
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Nick seems to be using the words in Romans 12 a lot lately. Not that I mind, they are some of my favorites. In my own life, they are the words that changed everything.
Often as a new Christian it is hard to understand why change is so hard. Everyone has loved on you and supported you, prayed the sinners prayer with you. Now, with the great thing called hope you get up everyday tripping over all of your old mistakes. Well, this is how it worked for me. So frustrating and discouraging it is to want something different in yourself and not knowing how to hold on to it.
It seems a rare thing that someone will come beside a new believer and help them understand that they are in need of a mental renewing . A change in life perspective. Hope is a beautiful thing but doesn't change the view and perspective that someone has held about themselves or the world. It isn't about wanting it bad enough or will power that will change old patterns. It is about changing your view. Having the right tools is important. Looking at life through the spectacles of abuse, addiction, self-righteousness and pride can make it pretty difficult to see things from God's perspective.
There are times, even today, that my views and opinions just don't line up with my faith. Sometimes it is more important to me to be right then it is to be in agreement with God. Oh, Yes, I can be a right-fighter. Many times in this life of mine I have been so adamant about something that I have hurt relationships. I want to agree with God in all things, what is it Paul says; "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15)
If we continue to read into Romans 8 about Paul's struggle; he tells us of the promise we have been given; there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Then he also reminds us in verse 6 "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.."
For all of us, be it new believer or mature Christian, we all struggle with seeing things from our old points of view. It is time for a new prescription; and the more time we spend in fellowship, in learning and in His Word, the more opportunity we have to renew our ways of thinking. We may continue to struggle but we are no longer bound to the thoughts of our former lives.
Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fearYour Lenses (Family Challenge)
again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out,
"Abba! Father!"
I don't really have an activity for you this week, but more of something to think about. As parents, teachers and mentors to our children we are helping form their opinions and views on life. Double check the lenses you are having children in your life look through. They come to us open minded and we add to them the things we believe and see. Does our perspective help or hurt their life views? Do they see God when they see through your lenses?
