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What you mull over every day will help or hinder your usefulness for God. The Bible has much to say on this.
The Corrupt Mind
The first reference we have to our minds is in Genesis 6:5-6. Sin had entered the world, and man was continually rebelling against God. When God looked down on his creation and saw the sin of man it says; “it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” You would expect that sin grieved God so much because of the terrible immoral physical aspect of it. However, the scriptures reveal something far deeper. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” God was far more disgusted with man’s mind. We can see outward sin, but God can see something far deeper.
The Lord teaches this principle in Matthew 15:19, “those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Before the long list of terrible sins, the Lord first mentions our thoughts. All these evil things begin with just one thought.
Someone who does not have the spirit of God in them is controlled by their sinful thoughts, they continually think selfishly and for their own pleasure. Romans 1 shows us that rebellious sinners “do not like to retain God in their knowledge”, they have “vain imaginations”, they have “reprobate minds”.
The Christian Mind
But God in his mighty power has given us new minds. 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that “we have the mind of Christ.” This means that through the power of the Spirit we can think the way Christ thinks. This cannot be merely to think correctly about doctrine, it is to adopt Christ’s attitude. The apostle Paul continues this wonderful truth in Romans 8:5, “For they that are after the Spirit (do mind) the things of the Spirit.” Positionally, God has given us the ability (through the Spirit) to have minds that think upon spiritual things.
Yet, while this is true, our minds are not yet perfected. The old nature has not been removed or improved. That is why Scripture calls us to live with sanctified minds.
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Paul is describing spiritual warfare, and he teaches that this happens in the mind. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” Paul is saying that believers are called to actively submit our thoughts under the authority of Christ. You might think it's ok to let your thoughts wander and think in ways that feed your flesh, but God demands that our thought lives be pure!
That’s why Paul exhorts the believers at Rome by saying, “Don’t be 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.” Once again, we might expect a list of outward behaviours to avoid but instead Paul goes to the mind. We are not to follow the pattern of this world. The way to do that is by being continually transformed every day by the renewing of our minds. Titus 3:5 teaches that this renewal comes only through the Holy Spirit.
I used to think that my thought life didn’t matter. I assumed that being active in my local church somehow outweighed what was going on in my mind. I have known times in which everyone around me probably thought I was doing well, but deep down I was a million miles away from God. The more I’ve read scripture in the last while, the more I realise how easy it is to become a Pharisee – outwardly correct but inwardly occupied with self. Resentment, anger, pride, lust, and covetousness all begin in the mind. If allowed to settle there, they will lead to spiritual ruin.
Christ’s Mind
We are not left in the dark as to what our minds should be like. In Philippians 2:1-8, we get a beautiful insight into the mind of our Saviour. Our Lord’s mind was a mind marked by humility, selflessness and obedience. He thought about others before himself. The man who deserved all glory and honour made himself a servant, for us.
We are told to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2)
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
