Mind

TEXT: Romans 8:5-9; Philippians 2:3; 4:4-9

In Proverbs 23:7, we learn that as a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Our actions are almost always preceded by thoughts. Once we have committed our hearts and minds to Christ and are truly born again, our desires are changed from those which are sinful to those which are pure and godly. However, as long as we are here on earth, we can be tempted to think to do evil. Therefore, it is important that we make a conscious effort to direct our minds away from evil and toward the good. With our new godly nature, we must continue to live with minds controlled by the Spirit of God.

QUESTIONS

1. We cannot ignore the evil in the world. Christians love sinners but hate the evil they do. Clip articles from your newspapers or magazines which illustrate some of the evils present around us, and some illustrating Christianity in action. Note your reaction to these articles.
2. Research the meaning of the word meditate.
3. Name Old Testament characters who meditated often on God’s Word.
4. Select a Scripture that at some point in your life you meditated on and from which you gleaned some spiritual insight or strength. Write down this Scripture and what it meant to you.
5. Write Psalm 119:148 in your own words.
6. Psalm 143:5 gives us appropriate things on which to meditate. Read the verse and then give a specific example for each.
7. It has been said that even the good and necessary can keep us from the better, which can, in turn, keep us from the best. Explain how this can be with reference to what we think about.
8. Isaiah 26:3 gives one benefit of keeping our minds fixed on God. What is it?
9. Peter exhorts us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Even Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). In light of today’s lesson, note here the action you plan to take to increase your Christian stature.

THOUGHT PROVOKER: At the end of a regular workday, take inventory of how many times during the day your mind was on Scripture, a hymn, the presence of Christ, the need to see your fellow workers saved, a prayer, and the like.