This week's Bible Study - February 21, 2010
What is on Your Mind?
 Background Scripture:
Colossians 3:1-14
Quote of the Week:
"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that is where I renew my springs that never dry up."
-- Pearl S Buck
What's on your mind? Has anybody asked you that question? It can either be a polite question that shows respect for your opinion, or it can be somewhat of a condescending remark. Or, it can be anywhere in between. In my career, I've worked with some incredibly gifted people. They have been an invaluable resource in helping to identify solutions to difficult problems. Often, when the problem is stated, one of the first things that people do it go and find out what this resource's first impression is. Their minds seem to lock into the problem space and they consider many possible solutions that others may not think about. When these people are thinking, others do want to know what is on their mind.
There are some people that are very much to themselves in their thoughts. I have to admit that I am like this a lot. I do like to take in data and information and process on it internally. It can sometimes appear as standoffish behavior, but it really is not intended to be such. This type of person can often develop solutions to problems by spending time thinking alone. There are other people that are much more open. They do better by expressing their thoughts and developing a course of action. Whichever type you are, it is probably best that your thoughts are at least at times kept to yourself. Can you imagine the fallout if you said everything you thought? I work with a lady who talks about her 'filter'. We've all got one of those, where we filter the things that we say before we speak. If your filter is removed, you may find yourself saying things that you never meant to say.
As believers, some of us are more to ourselves and others of us are more open. However, the things on our mind should be relatively the same. This passage in Colossians tells us that our mind is very important. It is much easier to examine the outward actions of people and base our opinions on those actions. Our minds are usually kept to ourselves, but the impact of allowing our mind to run amok will eventually lead to outward actions. It is very important that we control our minds and our thoughts. What is on your mind?
This passage starts off with the word since, implying that there has been some action that leads to another action. This passage isn't for the entire world, but for those who have been raised with Christ. Some people come into a church and think that every word that is said is to apply to them, but in actuality, the words only apply to those who are true believers. Since we have been raised with Christ, we are to set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated. What is your heart set upon? Too often, we yearn for the things of this world. That's what the majority of the people that we work with, or go to school with or deal with in life do. When you are around these people, you will find it easy to start wanting the things that they want, which may be very far apart from the desires of a true believer.
We are told to not set our minds on earthly things. This is something we all deal with. We watch TV and see commercials, which are intended to get us thinking about those products. If you're like me, you often forget the product, but you remember the commercial. I guess it worked, halfway. We are inundated by the world and so it takes much discipline to not allow us to think as the world thinks. Just think about your past several days. How much of your time have you seriously set your minds on heavenly things? Are you spending time in God's word or in prayer? Are you getting together with other believers, or are you spending most of your time with people who could care less? While being around the right things does not guarantee that you are 'getting it', you are at least putting yourself in the best possible position.
We'll see this a few times in this lesson - as believers, we are to have died to our old selves. Obviously, if you are reading this, you are alive, but we are to have died to ourselves. You may have heard of the term 'dead man walking'. This implies somebody who is on death row and is walking to his or her execution. This doesn't paint the cheeriest picture ever, but we are truly 'dead men walking'. Do you realize that you are dead to the world, or are you trying to get as much of the world as you can? While we don't see much to get excited about with a death row inmate walking to his execution, there is much to be said about those of us who are dead to the world, and alive in Christ. For such a short period of time, it would seem to make sense to align with the world - go for the gusto and all of that. However, what do you want for eternity? Are you thinking that the world will carry you through, or are you truly allowing yourself to be taken in Christ? On that day when Christ appears, those of us who have died to ourselves will appear with him in glory.
This passage begins again with the notion of having died to the world, which implied that we should also put to death the things of the world. As believers, we know that we are to put these things to death, but many of us tend to want to put them on life support. We know that someday we'll put them to death, but people tend to hang on to them until that time, thinking that they have control over them. If you've lived long enough, you know this is a dangerous thing to do as it can come up to bite you.
I remember hearing a 'made up' story about a kid who saw a snake on the ground. The snake looked up at the kid and asked if the kid would pick it up (remember, made up story!). The kid said that the snake was dangerous and would bite the kid. The snake said that was nonsense. He was totally benign and he wouldn't harm the child at all. So, the child believed him and picked him up. He carried the snake around for quite a while with no issues, and then the snake bit him. The child looked down at the snake and said 'Hey, you told me you wouldn't bite'. The snake looked up and said 'Hey kid, I'm a snake, that's what I do'. And, the snake slithered away. While it is a made up story, it makes perfect sense. What have you picked up, thinking that you could control and that it wouldn't hurt you? Have you ever been surprised by what actually happened?
There are a few things that Paul mentions that belongs to the earthly nature. They include, but are certainly not limited to sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed and idolatry. You don't have to have a Buddha statue on your coffee table to have an idol. Anything that you put in front of Christ is essentially an idol. Several people that read this may say that they do not deal with these particular issues. Everyone has their own specific issues, which may or may not line up with this specific list. I would encourage each of us, however, to take a long hard look and identify where our problems lie. Superman was okay, as long as he was not around kryptonite. The key was that he knew that was an issue, so he avoided kryptonite. What is your kryptonite? It really helps to know what your issues are, so you can be on alert when you are facing them.
Every person has a very similar problem. We all deal with the earthly nature, and in essence, it is anti-God. The earthly nature tends to place self on the throne of life, and to make decisions in life that benefit self more than anything else. This is in essence the earthly nature. Paul tells us that this is how we 'used' to walk. This was the life we once lived. We often have issues dealing with these passages, because we tend to hang on to the things we 'used' to do. This is potentially the biggest hang-up for a believer in life, as it thwarts the power of God to be able to work in their lives. We hang on to something that is destructive, which in essence quenches the beneficial power of Christ in our lives. I believe there are people that are saved, but they are walking wounded, by their own volition.
We are told that, as believers, dead to the earthly nature, we are to get rid of the things in our lives that align with the world. This doesn't mean that you sell all of your possessions and move into a monastery. I heard another story (again, made up) about a man that became a monk and lived in a monastery. He took a vow of silence - 2 words every 7 years. After seven years, he said 'food bad'. Then, seven years later, he said 'bed hard'. Then, after seven more years, he said 'I quit'. They let him go, saying that all he ever did was complain! The point is that taking yourself out of a situation may help in some regards, but wherever you go, there you are. And, if you don't take care of yourself, you'll never get past these issues in your life. The passage tells us to get rid of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language. There are things that are controlled by our mind. There are choices that we make. If we just let everything go back to the most basic emotions - you'll see all of these. We know that they are destructive, but it is an intentional decision to focus elsewhere. Our attitudes, our thoughts, our talk - all of these things should be different for a person that has died to the earthly nature.
We are told to not lie to each other. Do we really lie to each other? That is something that many people do as part of their base behavior. While they may not do it to hurt someone else intentionally, our old self certainly did what was expedient for 'me', 'now'. It is certainly a common part of our old self and practices. You can go to a grade school playground and find them in a prevalent manner and you can go to a corporate boardroom and also find them. While it may be prevalent in society, it is not something that we should have prevalent in our lives.
Our new self is being renewed based on the knowledge of our Creator. This implies that it is a process and is not yet completed. It is also something that we need to continue to do. We know that certain things need to be renewed. If you get a subscription to a magazine, it may last for several months and then you need to renew. There are not many things that you get for a lifetime without having to renew. However, our new self is not to be renewed after several months. You won't get a notification in the mail that says that you now need to renew yourself. It is a daily process, and often even more frequent. It is amazing how easily we drift away. I've often thought about how the Christian life is more like paddling upstream rather than climbing a mountain. You can't just put the oar in the boat and relax. You'll find that you start going back downstream once you quit paddling. Have you noticed how volatile your Christian walk is? If you spend a few days away from the Bible or prayer or gathering with other believers, it is easy to become more and more like the world. This is probably one of the reasons why we as believers are not so different from the rest of the world.
Our new selves are different. The passage says that there is no longer Greek or Jew. There is not the circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free. We are all one in Christ. Christ is all and is in all. Have you noticed the commonality of believers? We often think they are just like our church, where most people tend to look like us and live similar lives. However, when you go around the world and find other believers, that misconception is totally blown away. I remember my first mission trip to Belarus. We went into a church in Bobruisk and met many other brothers and sisters in Christ. They spoke a different language and their lifestyle was very different. However, there was a common bond that made us more alike than someone else from my own hometown. Are we still holding on to those distinctions, or do we recognize the family of believers from other cultures and lands around the world? Do we see the family of believers on the other side of town? The family of Christ is much larger than the folks inside of our church..
It is easy to look at Scripture and see how messed up we are. Unfortunately, the enemy and sometime many 'friends' want to continue to remind us of things we have done or who we were. But, there is a different slant given in this passage. We are God's chosen people. We are holy and dearly loved. Is this how you see yourself? I've often thought of the Christ filter. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He is who God sees when he looks at you. He is like a filter that allows us to be seen as holy by God. We know if that filter is removed, our holiness is as filthy rags. We try and we do progress through life, but none of us ever truly make it to where we need to be. It is a process that we go through with no end date.
It may be evident, but it bears a few words here. The Christ filter does make us appear holy and acceptable to God. What does it mean to have the Christ filter? It doesn't mean that you try your hardest. It doesn't mean that you have gotten rid of all of the problem areas in your life. It means that you have acknowledged that you have sinned and that it has caused a breakage in your relationship with God. It means that you acknowledge that there is a penalty for sin, which is eternal separation from God. It means that you acknowledge that Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and paid the required penalty for sin. It implies that you have accepted Jesus Christ and have asked for forgiveness of your own sins. We are told that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse from our sins. This is all done through our acceptance of Christ as our Savior and an acknowledged desire to follow him throughout life. When you have done this, you have the Christ filter applied, and you are seen as holy. If you try any other method, you are telling God that you think you're good enough to enter his presence on your own, or perhaps you're not even acknowledging God at all in your life. Each of us makes these decisions, and the implications of these decisions impact our present day life, but more importantly, it impacts our eternal destiny. Do you have the Christ filter?
After we have that relationship with Christ established, we can then begin to work on this renewal of our lives. As the old ways are removed from our lives, we begin to deal with others in a spirit of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We bear with one another - and let me tell you that won't always be easy. We are all imperfect creatures and we all are dealing with our earthly natures which cause many problems in relationships. A part of our new life is to forgive grievances that we have with others. The implication is that the forgiveness must go both ways. We must forgive those who have wronged us and we must seek forgiveness from those we have wronged. Our relationships with other people have a big impact on how God can use us.
As some people read this lesson, specifically in the area of forgiveness, I can even sense as I write this that someone is saying - "But you don't understand how I've been hurt or what has done to me". Truly, I understand that there is tremendous hurt in some people. And, this hurt and actions of others may end up destroying relationships and cause people to part. But, there is an aspect of forgiveness that is needed and if it isn't given or attained, it can eat away at both the unforgiver and the unforgiven. We are called to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. Truly, we acknowledge our own issues before the Lord, and know that we are forgiven. Why do we hold others to higher standards and withhold our own forgiveness? Again, you may not be able to mend all relationships, but you need to be able to forgive. It may be a parent, a spouse or an ex spouse, a child, a close friend, a neighbor, a pastor, a teacher or someone else. If you withhold forgiveness, you will find that you are impacted in a much greater manner than you ever imagined. Please consider forgiveness.
Over all of the other virtues, we are called to put on love, which binds all other things together in perfect unity. Love is the backbone of why we do what we do. It isn't a series of unrelated tasks that we must go do - have compassion on a person, be kind to someone else, forgive someone or any other 'good' thing. It is to all be done out of love, which gives the fuel to do the other things. The filter that was applied on your behalf, in the person of Christ, was not a task to be done, but was provided out of love for you. You may recall John 3:16-17 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." This was all done out of love, which is the backbone of the rest of the things we do. Would you say that your life shows love for others?
Closing
The lesson asks us what is on our minds. May I ask you what is on your mind and who are you living for? As I write this lesson, I am so often convicted of attitudes and thoughts and deeds that I struggle with. I learn daily, if not more often, that is important for me to understand what I am living for. It boils down to whether I am living for myself or for my Savior. Who are you living for? Where is your heart set? What are your chief desires? Do they line up with the desires of the world or the desires of Christ? What about your thoughts? We are inundated with so many distractions each day. You can't turn on the TV without something pulling at you. You can't really check you email without some other link or advertisement or story pulling at you. It requires focus.
We can't stop the stimulants. They are just part of our world, but we can control what we allow to take root in our minds. You may have heard that you can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair (just keep it real short - ha!) We know that if we allow certain thoughts to take root in our minds that we will be led astray. One line from a hymn that comes to mind is the one that states "prone to wander, Lord, I feel it". Boy, I do feel that at times. We must be diligent and realize that we are in a battle in this life. When you know you're in a battle, you're less likely to slack off and let the enemy draw near.
Are you being renewed each day? Just ask yourself how much you seek God. Are you finding time to pray, or is it only when you have urgent needs? I know when there are tragedies in the lives of those around us; our prayer lives tend to become more consistent. Often, you will see a huge spiritual growth in your life when a tragedy strikes. Why is this? It is because we as believers are being renewed as we spend time with God. What is your prayer life like? How about your time in God's word? It is good that you've read this lesson and hopefully you have gotten something out of it. Perhaps you read these each week, but what happens in meantime? We need to seek out the things that will renew our lives. This will not happen without action on your part.
Lastly, what part does love play in your life? It is the backbone of all of the other behaviors that we have. It isn't an earthly form of love, but a love that loves as Christ loved. If you recall his ministry, he loved those who had needs and those who were unloved by others. If you love only those who love you, you're pretty much doing what the world does. Let your love spread to others and let it impact the way you live your life each day.
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