Recently, our church considered Romans 12:1-2:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)
The Lord has been challenging me with another verse from Romans 8:5-7, also having to do with the mind (pointed out by Terry Wardle's book "Draw Close to the Fire"):
"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." (emphasis mine)
other verses in Romans come to mind . . .
Romans 1:21-22, For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools . . .
Romans 1:28, Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind . . .
I have been convicted of my corrupt thought life that often doubts God and often judges others. Wardle's book offers some very helpful steps in applying the gospel to my mind:
1. Confess my sin
2. Reckon my sinful mind as dead with Christ
3. Embrace my "resurrected mind," received by faith in Christ
4. Entreat the Spirit to replace my thoughts with his, to exchange my mind for the mind of Christ.
