SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
James 4:1-10
James 4:8

"…purify your hearts,
ye double minded."

A SANCTIFIED MIND (4)

A Double Mind: The Greek term for "double minded" is dípsuchos, a combination of dis (twice) and psuchē (soul, mind), meaning "doubleminded, doubtful; in a general sense as an unstable person (Jas 4:8). Such a person suffers from divided loyalties. On the one hand, he wishes to maintain a religious confession and desires the presence of God in his life; on the other hand, he loves the ways of the world and prefers to live according to its mores and ethics" (Zodhiates). "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8) as he does not wholeheartedly trust in the Lord nor submit to Him and His Word. He wants to serve two masters, both God and worldly values and pleasures, which are unacceptable before God. "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt 6:24).

A double-minded person cannot be trusted as he keeps on changing his mind. He may have a double life, a double standard and a double talk. He can be godly on Sunday, but worldly on weekdays. He may confess one thing, but his mind may not mean it. He is not true to himself, to God and to others! He is not consistent in his beliefs and convictions. He is compromising, self-pleasing and man-pleasing. He may use the same biblical and theological terms, but may have different beliefs and convictions. He may state that he believes in the inspiration and preservation of the Holy Scripture, but in his mind it is only the autograph or only the important doctrines, and not all the words of God! Thus, we must be cautious and discerning in these last days. The only way a double-minded person can be freed from his double mind is to acknowledge that his double mind is sin, and then to humbly and sincerely repent and cry to the Lord for His deliverance. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:8). "Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name" (Ps 86:11). What about you?

THOUGHT: I must be true to God, to myself and to others.
PRAYER: Lord, please unite my heart and mind to fear Thy Name.