Enlightened Mind!

Yesterday we considered the demise of the mind left in the dark. As Paul went on in his letter to the church at Ephesus he noted the CHARACTER OF THE MIND ENLIGHTENED BY GOD. In contrast to the mind of unbelievers, Paul stated the following with reference to those who had accepted Christ.

We read. . .
"(20) But that is not the way you LEARNED CHRIST! -- (21) assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, (22) to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, (23) and to be RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS, (24) and to put on the NEW SELF, CREATED AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD in TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS." ( Ephesians 4:20-24)

Can we see the great contrast between the darkened mind we noted yesterday and the mind ENLIGHTENED by the TRUTH IN JESUS? Though it impacts the outward behavior it is an inside job that deals with corrupting deceitful desires by RENEWING THE MIND. According to W.E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the Greek word "ananeoo" means to "renew" or "make young" ("ana" meaning "back" or "again" and "neos" meaning "recent") The "spirit of the mind" is made young and RECEPTIVE again to the Will of God. This ENLIGHTENMENT leaves the "old self" behind as the "new self" is "created" [(Gk. "ktizo", "to create", and always used in Scripture as an act of God] after the LIKENESS OF GOD with the essence of TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS and HOLINESS.

Have we "LEARNED CHRIST" in such a way that we have been RENEWED in the spirit of our minds and CREATED after God's likeness? In Christ we are brought back to that which God had in mind in the beginning. ( Genesis 1:26-27) An inside job, impacting our thinking, and changing the course of our lives!

In Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth, he stated. . .
"(16) From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (17) Therefore, IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." ( 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV)

We must remain open to the ENLIGHTENMENT of God in order to view neither Christ nor ourselves merely according to the flesh, but rather in recognition of our spiritual nature. Though we live in a physical realm we are to do so as spiritual beings CREATED in the image of God and destined for an eternity with Him. May the CHARACTER OF OUR MINDS remain ENLIGHTENED by God so that HIS LIKENESS will become more evident in our daily lives.

Have a great day SEEING TO LIVE FOR GOD!
Carl

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