“To be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:23-24 NIV)

To be made new in the “attitude of your minds” is interesting when you consider the definition of the word “attitude”. The definition is typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior. So, this could mean to be made new in the “behavior” of your mind. Some synonyms for attitude are: viewpoint, outlook, perspective, stance, standpoint, position, and inclination.

It is a doable choice!

This verse also says to “put on the new self”. This means you can choose to put it on! You can choose how you think and respond to things. You can choose to have a good attitude (a good viewpoint, outlook, perspective, stance, standpoint, position or inclination) in any circumstance if you decide to and just put your mind to it! You can choose to “put on” a good attitude.

The Bible puts it this way

 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2 NIV). Then, as our promise at the top says, you will be able to be “like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

Wow! The Apostle Peter says in this passage that God “has given us everything”. That is a straight forward promise! It’s a done deal! But, I believe we don’t always remember that wonderful fact. At least in the lyrics of some of our church worship songs anyway!

Worship music words that are “anti-promise” bother me!

I “usually” love to sing the worship songs at church. There are so many great ones. Accept, occasionally, when the words are unbiblical or inappropriate for New Testament believers.

For instance

I travel a lot, and visit many churches, so I get to hear lots of worship songs. A song that seems to be popular right now has words that say, “God come down!” (And, it’s repeated over and over many times). It has a great tune and is easy to sing.

My problem with it? God has already come down!

He did it in the form of Jesus, who is “God with us”. (Matt. 1:23) And, He has clearly promised, “I will never leave or forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). And, when we receive Him, he comes to live inside of us (John 1:12, Gal. 2:20, Rom. 8:11).

We do not have to ask God to do what He has already clearly said He has done in His Word! And, when we ask Him to give us that which He has already clearly supplied, it demonstrates a lack of faith! It doesn’t build faith, it does just the opposite!

When songs with these kinds of words are sung at churches I attend, I just think about what the Word of God actually says instead of singing along (I do this discreetly of course). I understand, too, that God understands the intentions of the heart, and that is good news.

So, why are we asking Him (in some of our worship songs) to do what He has already done? I’ve pondered this question many times.

One possible answer

Perhaps we are just forgetful and need reminders about what the Bible says about these things! Our promise for today says, “His Divine power has given us all that we need,” which is certainly true! But, further down in the same passage, Peter says the following.

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them … .” And, “I think it is right to refresh your memory…” (2 Peter 1:12-13)

He says the same thing twice! Perhaps it’s because we often forget basic truths we shouldn’t forget.

It’s through knowledge

The last part of this promise says that God has supplied our needs “through our knowledge of him.” And, that is a reminder that we must study the Bible so that we are knowledgeable about what He has already done!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8 NIV)

A few years ago Susan and I took a short vacation with our daughter and her two, five-year-old, twin girls. As we walked along together at the busy airport, the girls stayed between their mother and us, and they continually looked up to make sure we had our eyes on them. And, of course we did, because we love them! We made sure they knew where to go at all times, and that they we’re always safe.

In the same way, God has “His loving eye” constantly on you. He will “instruct you in the way you should go!” And, that’s a powerful and comforting promise that you can take with you wherever you go!

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled.” (John 14:27 KJV)

A wonderful tool!

God gives you peace and it is a wonderful tool to help you in your decision making. It has saved me many times from making wrong decisions. 

Check your heart for peace!

When I have to make a big decision, I check my heart to make sure I have God’s peace about it. Sometimes, everything looks perfectly fine on the surface; I can’t see anything wrong, yet I don’t have peace about the decision. When this happens, I stop and wait. Often, the answer becomes clear later and I am then very glad that I didn’t move forward without peace.

Let the peace of God rule!

“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” (Col. 3:15 KJV) This is good counsel to follow! 

It could even save your life!

I have a friend who was scheduled to fly to Africa for a speaking engagement. He was very excited about going and everything was arranged and looked good. But, just before he was to leave, he felt a sudden heaviness in his heart about going and no peace about it. So, even though he had already purchased his ticket, he decided not to go.

Soon after, he was very glad he had decided to “let the peace of God rule in his heart,” and not go on the trip to Africa, because the airplane he was scheduled to be on crashed and all passengers perished!

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31 KJV)

The answer to the question in the above passage, of course, is “No one!” Because God is God and no one, or anything else, is greater than Him! He paid a lot to redeem you (John 3:16), and He will not allow anyone to take what is His (which is you!) That is made very clear in the very next few verses.

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Rom. 8:32-34 KJV)

In other words

He has your back, and that’s a huge promise!

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Eph. 1:4 NIV)

Did you know that God chose you to be adopted into His family? It’s true, and that was His plan all along!

And wait, there’s more! 

And, on top of that, He has made you “holy and blameless in his sight!” When he looks at you, He looks right past any kind of blemish and only sees you as His perfect child, made that way through the cleansing blood of His Son, Jesus Christ!

And why did He do this?

Because he loves you! (John 3:16). You are chosen and loved by God! And he backs it up, not simply with words, but with His power, with His Holy Spirit, and with His deep conviction!

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” (1 Thess 1:4-5 NIV)

So, hold your head up high with complete confidence! After all, look who your adoptive father is!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)

The Bible says that God WILL “generously give you wisdom” if you simply ASK Him for it without wavering (James 1:5-6).

That is a very important promise for you to take advantage of!

Just look at all of its benefits listed in Proverbs 3:13-19

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.” (Proverbs 3:13–19 NIV)

 To recap:

1) Better returns than silver and gold!

2) More precious than rubies!

3) Nothing you desire compares with it!

4) Long life!

5) Riches!

6) Honor!

7) Pleasant ways!

8) Paths of peace!

9) A “tree of life”

10) You’re blessed!

Wow! Wow! Wow! That’s why the next verse says …

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV)

Therefore

Make getting wisdom your principle thing! It’s just that important! ASK God for it, and then you will get to enjoy the many wonderful promises that come along with it!

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5 NIV)

When you compare light with darkness you discover a very important truth, darkness does not exist. Darkness is only the absence of light. Think of it this way, you can have a flashlight but you cannot have a flash-dark. You cannot shine darkness because it does not exist. Put another way, you cannot bring darkness into a room full of light and extinguish light, but you can, however, bring light into a dark room and extinguish darkness.

 Light and darkness are metaphors for good and evil

 “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7 NIV)

Jesus is the light of the world

There is another Light, a Light so important that Jesus, the Son of God, came to both declare and impart it to men. John 8:12 (NIV), records, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.’” The allegory used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Those who perceive the true Light will never walk in spiritual darkness.

Jesus Christ brings light to the darkness of any heart. It is the Good News about the truth of God’s love that is capable of overcoming any obstacle, no matter how dark.

God’s light is shed upon the darkness of all sin, allowing human beings the opportunity to escape the dark grip of sin for the light of God’s love. This is why (and how) “the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 NIV)

You, too, have a light to shine

Jesus tells is to keep our light out in the open where it can do good.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 NKJV)

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8 NIV)

Want God to be “near to you”?

Notice the order of things described in this promise. It tells YOU to come near to God, and then, if you do, He will come near to you!

Many Christians have it backwards!

They spend a lot of time asking God to “come”, “bless” and to “hear their prayers,” when He has already made those things, and much more, freely available to “whosoever” will simply reach out to Him and receive them by faith!

Come boldly

The Bible says to “come boldly” to God and receive what you need. (Heb. 4:16) Another passage says to “seek Him first” and then all that you need will be added to you. (Matt. 6:33) Notice, in each verse, you are instructed to take the initiative. And, that’s because God has already done His part! You just need to act on it with faith!

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)