Renewing Your Mind (Victory Series Book #4): Become More Like Christ (5 page)

Exodus 13:17–22

Key Point

The sheep of God’s pasture know the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him.

Key Verse

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Romans 8:14

E
ven in the wilderness, God led His people and provided for their needs. He guided them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (see Exodus 13:20–22), and He never deserted them. His guidance was unfailing, constant and loving. “He brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness” (Psalm 78:52). “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (100:3), and Jesus is “the good shepherd” (John 10:14). “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (verse 3).

In Scripture, God’s children are often referred to as sheep. For the most part this is a comforting notion, but it also conveys our helplessness. Sheep are not carnivorous like wolves. They sacrificially give their wool while they are living and their meat when they die. There is a lot of good to be said for sheep, but they are not the smartest animals on the farm. When left alone in lush green pastures, sheep will eat themselves to death. Perhaps this is why David tells us, “The L
ORD
is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He
makes me lie down
in green pastures” (Psalm 23:1–2, emphasis added).

In our Western world, we keep our sheep moving in green pastures by chasing them from the rear. But that is not the way shepherds led their sheep in Israel. Even to this day, the shepherd will let the sheep graze until they are full or in need of greener pastures. The shepherd will then stand up, say something, and then walk away. The sheep will look up and follow the shepherd. That is why Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Paul writes, “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14).

Being led by the Spirit implies that we are not being pushed. So if someone asks you to make a hasty decision without prayerful reflection, the answer should be no. God doesn’t lead that way. God’s guidance may come suddenly but never to the spiritually unprepared. Pentecost was sudden, but it was preceded by many days of prayer (see Acts 1:14).

Being led by the Spirit also means that we are not being lured away in some clandestine manner. God does everything in the light, but Satan is the prince of darkness. In the same epistle in which Paul tells us we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies (the spiritual realm), we are also told that we will have to stand firm “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

To guard against deception we must put on the armor of God, and we start with the belt of truth. The only way to recognize the counterfeit is to know the truth. John wrote, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true” (1 John 5:19–20). Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14–15).

What lessons can we learn from the metaphor that we are the sheep of His pasture?

How did shepherds in Jesus’ day lead their sheep? What should we learn from that?

Why must we put on the armor of God?

How can you detect counterfeit guidance?

How can you get to know the voice of God?

The whole essence of the Gospel is to think according to the Spirit, to live according to the Spirit, to believe according to the Spirit, to have nothing of the flesh in one’s mind and acts and life. That means also to have no hope in the flesh. “Walk then,” he says, “in the Spirit”—that is, “Be alive. If you do so you will not consummate the desires of the flesh. You will admit into consciousness no sin, which is born of the flesh.”

Gaius Marius Victorinus (c. fourth century AD)

Hebrews 12:1–13

Key Point

To fulfill our purpose in life, we must persevere in Christ even in the face of hardship.

Key Verse

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3
NKJV

B
ringing light into a dark world invites three predictable responses in people. First, some will run from the light because their deeds are evil. Jesus said, “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed” (John 3:20). Those who live in sin feel convicted around Christians, so they stay away from churches that preach the truth. Second, some will embrace the light as a liberating friend and gladly come to Jesus. Third, some will try to discredit the light source. This is what men tried to do to Jesus, and those who let their light shine today will suffer from similar insults and persecution.

The writer of Hebrews states, “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated” (10:32–33). With such opposition, how do we “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1)?

First, we consider the example of Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. Nobody suffered like Jesus did for the sake of righteousness. He is our model and inspiration for endurance. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (verse 3). Second, we consider the example of the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11—the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on to victory. If they could endure ill treatment without having the life of Christ in them, imagine what we can endure. We should always keep in mind that the will of God will never lead us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.

Third, we are to “endure hardship as discipline” (Hebrews 12:7). Being disciplined by God proves we are His children, “because the Lord disciplines the one he loves” (verse 6). If we as imperfect parents are aware of the need to discipline our children, how much more aware is God of
our
need for discipline? We can endure hardship as discipline if we know there is a purpose behind it. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (verse 11).

Those who prosper in life know that endurance is the key to success. It is said that success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. Those who earn graduate degrees are usually no more intelligent than those who quit before they finish their program; they graduated because they endured the process. No pain, no gain—this is true not just of the athlete but also for those who have overcome the odds to be all that Christ created them to be.

You will never fulfill your purpose in life if you choose the path of least resistance or quit before you finish the race. Too many Christians encounter a little opposition and drop out, saying, “It must not be God’s will.” On the contrary, it is God’s will that you persevere. “You need to persevere
so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).

What three responses can we expect from others when confronted with the light of Christ?

According to the writer of Hebrews, what opposition will we face in life?

What are three ways we can persevere when faced with difficulties?

In what ways have you been tempted to “drop out” when things get too hard and not follow the course you know God has set for you?

How have you benefited from persevering through challenges?

“You must therefore endure rough times as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” . . . Observe the kings on earth, how great an honor it is esteemed to serve under them. If therefore the soldier of the king ought to endure hardness, not to endure hardness is not the part of a soldier.

John Chrysostom (AD 347–407)

Renouncing

When making a public profession of faith, members of the Early Church would stand, face the west, and say, “I renounce you, Satan, and all your works, and all your ways.” This declaration is still practiced by many expressions of Christianity throughout the world. They began the repentance process by renouncing every counterfeit religious experience they had, every false vow or pledge they made, and every false teacher or doctrine in which they believed. They would then face the east and make a public declaration to follow Christ and believe the truth.

It was understood in the Old Testament that “whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Paul also encouraged the Church to renounce secret and shameful ways and choose the truth (see 2 Corinthians 4:1–2). Renunciation involves giving up a claim or right. When we renounce something, we are making a definite decision to let go of any past unrighteous commitments, pledges, vows, pacts, and beliefs that are not Christian.
We have not truly repented (changed our mind) if we make a decision for Christ and continue to hold on to the past and believe what we have always believed. That would make salvation an experience of addition rather than transformation. To decisively let go of the past is the first step in repentance.

New believers can easily lose heart if they simply add a little Christianity to their existing world experience. The finished work of Christ atoned for our sins and provided new life in Christ. However, the moment we were born again, we had not fully repented, nor were our minds instantly renewed. We needed the Holy Spirit within us to lead us to the truth that would set us free. Only then could we fully repent and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As new believers, we can repent because it is God who grants repentance that leads to a knowledge of the truth. Only then can we come to our senses and escape the trap of the devil (see 2 Timothy 2:25–26). Failure to do so will leave many Christians defeated and bound to their pasts.

“Disappointment—His appointment,” change one letter, then I see,

That the thwarting of my purpose is God’s better choice for me.

His appointment must be blessing, though it may come in disguise,

For the end from the beginning open to His wisdom lies.

“Dissappointment—His appointment,” Whose? The Lord, who loves me best,

Undertstands and knows me fully, who my faith and love would test;

For, like a loving earthly parent, He rejoices when He knows

That His child accepts, unquestioned, all that from His wisdom flows.

“Disappointment—His appointment,” no good thing will He withhold,

From denials oft we gather treasures of His love untold.

Well He knows each broken purpose leads to fuller, deeper trust,

And the end of all His dealings proves our God is wise and just.

“Disappointment—His appointment,” Lord, I take it, then, as such.

Like the Rod in hands of potter, yielding wholly to Thy touch.

All my life’s plan is Thy molding; not one single choice be mine;

Let me answer, unrepining—“Father, not my will, but Thine.”

—Edith Lillian Young

Daily Readings

1 Samuel 18:1–16

Key Point

We need to be real about our emotional condition if we want to be right with God.

Key Verses

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Ephesians 4:26–27

T
hink of your emotions as being to your soul what your ability to feel is to your body. Now suppose somebody had the power to take away the sensation of physical pain and offered it to you as a gift. Would you receive it? If you lost the ability to feel pain, your body would become hopelessly scarred in a short time. Your soul would also be scarred if you never felt anger, anxiety, or depression.

These God-given emotions are like an indicator light on the dash of a car. Covering the light with a piece of tape is like suppressing our
emotions, which is dishonest and unhealthy. Stuffing our emotions will cause psychosomatic illnesses. Smashing the light is indiscriminate expression, and venting our rage is unhealthy for the people around us. So, how should we deal with our emotions? What we should do is look under the hood of the car. That is acknowledgment. Our emotional health is dependent on our emotional honesty. We can’t be right with God and not be real. If necessary, God may have to make us real in order to be right with Him.

When it comes to learning about how to deal with our anger, we can learn some valuable lessons from the story of Saul and David. Saul was jealous of David because David was getting more applause than he was. Like many insecure people, he grew angry because David was upstaging his social status. Saul certainly didn’t look under the hood, nor did he suppress his anger. He vented his anger on David. A little self-inventory may have prevented all of that.

David was the best friend of Saul’s son. David had saved Israel from the Philistine giant, and he had successfully done whatever Saul sent him to do (see 1 Samuel 18:5). Saul should have thanked God for David. David was secure because the Lord was with him (see verse 12). People who are secure in Christ are less prone to anger because their identity and sense of worth are found in Christ, not in the success or failure of others or in the positive or negative circumstances of life.

Before Saul ever became angry with David, he was bitter as a result of his confrontation with Samuel (see 1 Samuel 15). Because of Saul’s rebellion and disobedience, the Lord had rejected Saul as king of Israel and told Samuel to anoint David as king. There is no evidence that Saul ever repented of his sin or forgave David for upstaging him. At the heart of an angry person is a bitter spirit, and such unresolved anger gives the devil an opportunity. After venting his anger toward David, “The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul” (1 Samuel 18:10). The same could happen to us if we do not forgive from our heart.

Paul advises us, “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26–27). Our spiritual and mental health depends on how well we learn to handle our emotions. It is not a sin to be angry, but in our anger we must
not sin. If we wish not to sin, then we should be angry the way Christ was: We should be angry at sin.

How do we hurt ourselves when we suppress our emotions? How does that affect our communication with others, since most communication is nonverbal?

How can we hurt others if we indiscriminately express our feelings?

What was the root of Saul’s anger?

How did your parents express themselves emotionally? How has that affected you?

How does your ability to be emotionally honest reflect your security in Christ?

The devil can do nothing to us unless we ourselves willingly allow him to do so. This is true in all our acts. Thus we are masters of our own will; otherwise we would deserve no good return for our good acts, and no punishment for our bad acts. The devil’s opporunity arises from our own vice.

Gaius Marius Victorinus (c. fourth century AD)