January 15
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, and acceptable, and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Yesterday we discussed the importance of being in the Word, the Bible, on a daily basis so that we know what God thinks about things and what His agenda is for us as individuals and for His church in general. That is the informational role of the Word of the Lord in our lives. Today, we will discuss one other aspect of why it is so crucial to be in the Word on a daily basis, and that is because it has the power to transform our minds, which is key to walking in victory.
The scriptures are not dead and dull, they are alive and powerful. They cut us in the deepest parts of our being and reveal the truth about our hearts. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The scriptures reveal motives and secrets that we ourselves are not even aware of. They raise questions that every person ought to be asking of themselves; they are essential for self-examination and identification of blind spots. They are critical to answering the questions each of us should frequently be asking about ourselves and our walks with God, “What am I missing?”
Studying the word of God is like basking in the glow of God, it is the surest, quickest, and most effective way to draw near to God in His presence. As the nation of Israel could not look upon Moses because of the radiance of the glory of God shining from his face, as Jesus shone like the sun in His transfiguration and His appearance to John in the book of Revelation (see Revelation chapter 1), so also studying God’s word has that transforming effect on us.
A steady diet of God’s word will bring us as close to the Lord as I believe we can get on this earth. Praying gets us close, but diligent study gets us closer and then gives more power to our praying. I believe this is because when we are in the Word studying it, and it has its transforming effect on us, we are in essence abiding in Christ. Indeed, Jesus is called the Word (John 1), the most complete expression of God that mankind was able to see. So today, it is our time in the word which unleashes the transforming and empowering work of the Holy Spirit within us. And having a transformed mind is essential for overcoming temptation.
Tomorrow we will discuss more specifics and details for how to actually spend good, quality time in the scriptures.