CHANGED MINDSThey say women are the ones who are always changing their minds. Okay, in my case, guilty. But I know a lot of men who change their minds, too. Maybe it was because a woman told them to change their mind. I don’t know, but I do know God created our minds with free will to make choices. For women, this seems to be a superpower.
Believers in Jesus are mind changers. Believers in Jesus have made a choice to love and follow Him. Believers change our minds from what we want to asking what God wants for us. We change our attitudes from lazy selfishness to productive spiritual fruit bearers. (See past passages in Matthew about the fig tree.)
We change our ways of doing life from “all for me” to all for God and for His glory and praise. We have changed our minds to put our interests aside for serving others so they will know Him, too. We love to serve with our changed minds because we are more like Jesus when we serve. Our changed minds help us realize the depth of God’s love for us therefore making our love for others go deeper as well.
Changing our minds is key to growing as we journey with Jesus.
Matthew 21
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
When we change our minds from living that leads to death to new life in Christ, we will enter the Kingdom of God.Jesus told this parable to show the stubborn hearts of the religious leaders who no longer knew God. The two sons represent the two classes of people in that nation: the self-righteous religious people, and the publicans and sinners.
When John came ministering, the religious crowd showed great interest in his work, but they would not repent and humble themselves and be baptized (Matt. 3:7–12; John 1:19–28). The nonreligious crowd, however, confessed their sins and obeyed John’s words and were baptized.
The leaders committed two sins: They would not believe John’s message and they would not repent of their sins. Of course, the leaders felt that they had no need to repent (Luke 18:9–14).
Their rejection of John was actually a rejection of the Father who had sent him. But God is gracious, and instead of sending judgment, He sent His Son.
HOLY PAUSEHave I really changed my mind?
Or has my mind been made up and will not budge?
We are reminded by Paul how a changed mind operates. It is a daily task to change and renew our minds, hearts and souls to God to be directed by His Holy Spirit.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2, NLT
Jesus is the key to change and transformation.
Let’s change our minds!
Dear Abba Father,
I want what you want for me. Your best will always be more than enough for me. Transform this changed mind to be all that is pleasing to you. I repent. I am listening. I am yielded to you. Change the way I think for the way you think, dear Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 