RENEW your MIND when what HE says doesn’t make sense!

I love the Beatitudes!

I picture Jesus on the side of that hill near Capernaum, surrounded by a multitude of people from every demographic in Judea, Galilee, Jerusalem and beyond.  Restless in anticipation, the crowd is poised to grab ahold of the “Great Teacher’s” every word!  And then He begins …

“BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”

I can imagine the faces starting to twist into colorful expressions of perplexed confusion.  If it had been a 21^st-century concert, the audience would have quickly begun pulling ticket stubs to confirm that they were in the right place!

“BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.”

Oh, the crazy sharing of such radical thoughts.  Society being stood on its ear.

And truly, Jesus hasn’t stopped challenging us with radical thoughts from that moment until today.  His words have the power to give me great pause.  Sometimes I read … and then I puzzle.  Painful puzzling – well beyond my ability to comprehend.  The red letters staring back at me, unblinking and unapologetic.

You shared truth at every turn, Jesus. I know this to be true.  But it is not always so easy to grasp it.  To see it for what You intended it to be seen as.  I struggle to understand fully, and then I struggle some more to try and apply it in my life.

For example, I personally wrestle to make sense of God’s ongoing pronouncement that when and where I am weak, He is strong.  In fact, He actually goes so far as to tell me that His power is MADE PERFECT in/through weakness.

And suddenly, I am standing on that hillside, completely undone by the unique Kingdom-view that Jesus is sharing from His Father in Heaven.  No one in my everyday conversations and education ever said that my weaknesses were my best characteristics.  Yet God’s Word is full of this upside-down and inside-out concept.

But He has not left me abandoned and unsupported in trying to figure out His meaning.  He has shared plenty of clues warning that my worldly self will not be able to see the full truth put forth in His words. He tells me that I need to adjust my point of view. This is where I must be very intentional to heed some powerful words of guidance from the Apostle Paul:

“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 12:2 (NLT)

The key to being able to access His words is the RENEWAL of MY MIND.  I cannot simply try to reason in the ways that I did before I came to know Jesus.  I must see past those worldly perceptions that leave me adrift. I must intentionally push through into a deeper and grander way to see and consider.

The concept of surrender is seen as defeat by the standards of the world.  But NOT in God’s Kingdom economy.  Removing myself from trying to be in control, and surrendering to His guidance, actually opens me up to clearly see so much more.

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.”  Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT)

From this point of renewed thought, brought about through the guidance of the Holy Spirit inside of me, I am now freed to see, interpret, and follow His ways fully.  Such a simple adjustment when it is realized:  More of Him and less of me in all things.  So much higher – So much better!

For then, I no longer see weakness in surrender. I see strength and obedience.  My life looks UP, focusing on the vertical connection between myself and the LORD.  Only after this ‘vertical plug-in’ can I correctly look at my horizontal interactions here on Earth.  I can see the words in red through the deeper perspectives of God.  After all – we are His!  Our minds realigned to use His values first will draw us closer to Him in all we think, say, and do.

This is how we can shift gears to fully hear and see all that He has for us!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

*****

My prayer to you, Jesus,

Is that You would keep drawing us to this “other” path, showing us the narrow way that is often not immediately seen nor grasped.  It constantly beckons to us with a splendour and richness that we cannot completely understand until we finally accept to walk there with You.  We might struggle at first to make it all connect – but You will not abandon us as we consider and absorb.  Thank You, LORD!

Daily, may we latch on to every moment where You challenge us.  And once captured, may we then process each of these thoughts through a fully Christ-renewed mindset.  In many moments of confusion, let us be reminded of the knowledge that we can fully place our trust in You to guide our every consideration.

In Your Mighty Name Jesus,

 -Amen