Tuesday 25 September 2012

2 Peter 3:1 « This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. » KJV

Yesterday we looked at another text from Peter saying something very similar.  The word translated here as “stir up” also means to “awaken.”  The phrase “pure minds” literally means “thoughts judged to be true in the light of the sun.”

There are so many things that the Bible says to us about who we are in Christ, that our old minds, darkened by unbelief just cannot take hold of.  There are moments when we try our best “to believe” what God says; but in the end it is usually our old way of thinking that dominates our mind, our will and our emotions.

Yet, we have all been predestined to one thing.  And that one thing consists of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  This is not just a nice scripture to underline in your Bible; it is the truth of God.  God doesn’t want you to only believe in Jesus; He doesn’t want you only to follow Jesus.  He wants you to be LIKE Jesus.

So the thoughts of God regarding you are thoughts which have been shaped in the light of His truth.  When those thoughts clash with our human thoughts which have been shaped in the darkness of unbelief, fear and lack, there is a virtual war that ensues.  The thoughts which win that war will most definitely determine what you do for God in this life.

I’ve been reading through a fascinating book entitled, “Who Switched Off My Brain?” by Doctor Caroline Leaf, a neurologist.  Thanks to recent advances in the study of the functions of the brain scientists are changing their commonly held beliefs about thoughts and how they work.

It was believed that your brain was “hard-wired” from birth; you had to deal with the cards that you got dealt.  But now scientist have completely changed their belief.  And now we understand that you can indeed “re-wire” the brain, much like you can update the operating system on your computer.

You can take control over your thoughts.  You can judge those which are not from God; and meditate on those which are from God.  But you must decide to “awaken” your mind to the thoughts of God.

What are the thoughts of God regarding you?  Now, if you are young in the faith you may not even be aware that God thinks about you.  You will learn quickly that He does think about you; and His thoughts of you are more numerous than that sand on the sea shore!

But if you have been in Christ for a certain time than it is time for you to once and for all awaken to His thoughts about you and allow your old thoughts to die away.

We want to encourage you today to take some time, with paper and pen, and write down the thoughts of God regarding you.  Write them down now so that you can come back to them in the months to come when they are put to the test.