Then Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. ( Acts 10: 34-35).
THE APOSTLE PETER STRUGGLED FOR YEARS TO OVERCOME HIS:
deeply rooted prejudice against Gentiles ( Galatians 2). Martin Luther King lived and died promoting a dream that all men are equal. Nelson Mandela suffered to see apartheid abolished.
We've all been discriminated against in some form. To discriminate means to "differentiate," to treat somebody with prejudice, which is a preconceived judgment. It means to judge a person as "different" for some reason -- ethnically; socio-economically, or in gender, age, belief, life experience, or some other reason--- and, therefore, as inferior.
When someone prejudges us, they show the narrowness of their life and mind. What happens in life is if we haven't been exposed to something, if it's unfamiliar to us, we tend to have blinders on, like a racehorse, which can make for narrow-mindedness. Within a rigid mindset of discrimination the thinking is that only the people who look like, act like, make money like, dress like, and go to church like them should be given proper dignity and worth. The root of this is usually based in fear and jealousy that if another person is given the dignity he deserves, they will "lose" something.
They do not understand that God is no respecter of persons--- He does not discriminate, but freely and generously pours out His gifts and goodness to all people in covenant with Him. Jesus death on Calvary gave us all an equal opportunity: It cuts off all arguments for socioeconomic, gender, religious, or racial injustice.
The reason discrimination hurt so bad is because it is based on rejection. Rejection means to "deny" or "to refuse to acknowledge" or to "cast or throw aside as being useless." A person who is rejected feels devalued and less worthy than others. The only way to not feel a need for other people's approval is to know deep inside yourself that God totally accepts you and approves of you. (Ephesians 1:4-6). You can overcome discrimination if you know who you are in Christ. This is crucial, because if the enemy can mess up your spiritual identity, he can rob you of your destiny.
That's why God's opinion is the only opinion that really counts! That's why it's critically important that you know what God thinks of you.
Recognize that people who deny you, refuse to acknowledge you, or reject you don't have the ability to see the real you. Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God--- the word fearfully means" reverent:"; the word wonderfully means "different" (Psalms 139:14). It's your difference that distinguish you and make you so valuable because you are a Designer's original, handcrafted by God Himself!
Monday, November 7, 2011
RENEWAL OF THE MIND
"And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE YOUR WAY OF LIVING, YOU MUST change your way of thinking. God said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" ( Hosea 4:6 ). I believe it is possible for us to have a right heart for God and yet to have things all wrong in our heads. And with a wrong head, we may very well live in complete defeat and lose ground in the Kingdom of God. This has nothing to do with our hearts or with our worship. Our lives can be destroyed because of ignorance. Without a knowledge of the truth, we cannot be free. (John 8:32).
Most of the battles Christians face are in the mind. The mind is the seat of all spiritual and carnal conflicts. In essence what controls your mind controls your life. You are bombarded with thoughts every day that can lead you astray and produce harm in your life. Your thoughts and emotions injected with wrong motives, bitterness, evil intentions, or negative patterns will cause turmult in your mind. You must not allow your imagination to lead you contrary to God's purpose and plan for you according to His Word. " For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". (Romans 8:6). Although you are engaging in daily battle, deciding between life and death; you have the power to choose to have a spirit mind, which is connected and controlled by the Spirit of Christ.
God's Word says that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. The Holy Spirit is the foreman of the construction site, and the Word of God is the tool used for the process. Whatever is not built on the Word of God will not last; it will not produce the promises God has guaranteed in His Word, I must rid myself of old ways of thinking and build new thought processes based on the Word of God.
The apostle Paul said, " Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). To set your affection on things above means not only to seek heaven but also to think Heaven. You are to place your thought life, emotions, and will toward God. It involves the ability to see things of this world in the light of eternity.
The mind needs to be renewed daily by the Word of God. Meditate on key scriptures. Rehearsing the goodness of God and applying the blood of Christ over your memories is vital for spiritual survival. If you are going to live your life according to the thoughts of God, you will have to not only know His Word, but also obey it. We must be "doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1: 22). We live the thoughts of God by incorporating them into the actions of our every day life. Keep obeying the Word, and you will eventually arrive at your goal and His promise!
Related Texts: Psalms 1:1-2; Proverbs 16:3; Isaiah 55: 8-9; Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 2:5; 4:8; Hebrews 4:12
IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE YOUR WAY OF LIVING, YOU MUST change your way of thinking. God said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" ( Hosea 4:6 ). I believe it is possible for us to have a right heart for God and yet to have things all wrong in our heads. And with a wrong head, we may very well live in complete defeat and lose ground in the Kingdom of God. This has nothing to do with our hearts or with our worship. Our lives can be destroyed because of ignorance. Without a knowledge of the truth, we cannot be free. (John 8:32).
Most of the battles Christians face are in the mind. The mind is the seat of all spiritual and carnal conflicts. In essence what controls your mind controls your life. You are bombarded with thoughts every day that can lead you astray and produce harm in your life. Your thoughts and emotions injected with wrong motives, bitterness, evil intentions, or negative patterns will cause turmult in your mind. You must not allow your imagination to lead you contrary to God's purpose and plan for you according to His Word. " For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". (Romans 8:6). Although you are engaging in daily battle, deciding between life and death; you have the power to choose to have a spirit mind, which is connected and controlled by the Spirit of Christ.
God's Word says that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. The Holy Spirit is the foreman of the construction site, and the Word of God is the tool used for the process. Whatever is not built on the Word of God will not last; it will not produce the promises God has guaranteed in His Word, I must rid myself of old ways of thinking and build new thought processes based on the Word of God.
The apostle Paul said, " Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). To set your affection on things above means not only to seek heaven but also to think Heaven. You are to place your thought life, emotions, and will toward God. It involves the ability to see things of this world in the light of eternity.
The mind needs to be renewed daily by the Word of God. Meditate on key scriptures. Rehearsing the goodness of God and applying the blood of Christ over your memories is vital for spiritual survival. If you are going to live your life according to the thoughts of God, you will have to not only know His Word, but also obey it. We must be "doers of the Word, and not hearers only" (James 1: 22). We live the thoughts of God by incorporating them into the actions of our every day life. Keep obeying the Word, and you will eventually arrive at your goal and His promise!
Related Texts: Psalms 1:1-2; Proverbs 16:3; Isaiah 55: 8-9; Ephesians 4:23; Philippians 2:5; 4:8; Hebrews 4:12
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