1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
On this journey of Metamorphosis, we have looked at many aspects of what a transformed life looks like, with the understanding that it is from the inside out. We cannot accomplish much without a renewed mind. We have read what the result of the renewed mind is. The result of the renewed mind is that it will be able to “discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”.
What it doesn’t say is how this renewed mind works. Hold on, Paul deals with that, don’t get all antsy !!!!!!
Our renewed mind, and lifestyle, is not a “will – power religion”, as some are apt to teach, it is the overflow of a renewed mind, a new you, and a new heart, created by the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural, you can never produce it on your own.
You know the old saying, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”? We need to delve into the pages to glean the treasures, the golden nuggets, the life and wisdom hidden within.
It reminds me so much of Saul sending young David out to contest against Goliath. Saul’s greatest bargaining chip for victory, was, “Here wear my uniform, it is the kings armor.’ It was probably the best hauteur couture of the day; yet David put it on wal
ked around in it and declared… “Nah, this won’t work!” He stripped down to who God had made him to be. A new mind considering a great God, 1 Sam 17:45b For the battle is the LORDS, and he will give you into our hand.”
The silent screaming lesson is…”It’s not that important what’s on the label, but it’s the contents of the bottle!” Society is so bent on making sure, through media, film, and magazines, by attempting, and often succeeding at dictating, what our outward appearance must and should look like, and we have sadly negated the treasures within. Whilst we might look great, or not, on the outside, it is what erupts from the inside out, where the true treasure lies…. I digress somewhat.
After Peter has given some great instructions for husbands and wives, in 1 Peter 3:1-7; and he has given some great insights, also from the inside out; ie : for the wives he says “the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit”, and for husbands “live in an understanding way, honouring your wives, so that your prayers may not be hindered”. (Guys should ponder this for a while). He pulls it together, and says “ all of you”. And then gives a short exhortation, of the things of a renewed mind.
We definitely don’t want to follow the path of those described in 1 Tim 6: 5 “Constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth.”
Concluding our thought from Rom 12:1-2, we get to vs 3, where we have a key on how this renewed mind works
Rom 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
The key to our renewed mind is to do away with Pride. Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought to and be of sober mind, about the measure of faith you have been given in your gifting. We all have a gift set, yet we are not all the same! There’s a sober thought! Some have more faith and are more gifted in different areas; I can hear it “Awww, that’s not fair !!!!” Well whose talking about fair? That’s for another day….
However, what it will do for us, when we now rel-look at 1 Peter 3:8, it will release a tender heart and a humble mind, which will bring interdependence and a heart of servant-hood to unify the body. As I rejoice in my brothers’ gifts, I can lean on them for strength, and I get that ‘no man is an island’. We were not built to go it alone, we were meant for family and community.
What an exciting journey, being renewed in our thinking, living according to the Spirit of God, not by the flesh, bringing honor and glory to our amazing Father.
In this hectic pace of life, we should learn the art of slowing down, and considering, take a deep breath, in order to become responders to one another and not reactionaries. Being gentle and quiet in spirit not a depraved angry mind.
Oh to be the Butterfly….. Morph me O God into the man you have called me to be.