“20But that is not the way you learned Christ—21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off you old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” – Ephesians 4:20-24 (ESV)
As Christians, we do a lot of work on and with our hearts; giving, caring, going, and doing. And where that is a great way to approach our work for Christ, that is not all nor where it all begins. In the verses above, here are some of the words and phrases I am referring to: “learned, taught, put off, spirit of you minds, put on”. All of these refer to something more cerebral, or educational and indicate a choice.
We should “love and serve the Lord with all that is in them, including their minds (ESV Commentary)”. Before we can help with our hearts, we have to make the conscious choice to help, and that is with our minds.
Our decision to accept Christ is just that, a decision and that invokes the mind. Yes, we are convicted in our hearts, but it is in the mind that we choose to accept. We may be driven by our emotions, however it is our intellect that allows us to reason that the decision is right and good.
When you think of your life with Christ, are you only thinking of the emotional? Will you take a closer look at your conscious choice? Will you act on your choice of Christ and life with Him?
Trevor's Thoughts 