TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Isaiah 55:1-13
Isaiah 55:9

"For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so
… my thoughts than your thoughts."

A SANCTIFIED MIND (7)

An Obedient Mind: In contrast to the rebellious human mind, Jesus’ mind is an obedient and submissive mind. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil 2:8). Jesus submitted to His Father and obeyed His Father unto death, even the shameful and painful death of the cross. When we are filled with the Lord Jesus’ mind, we will also submit to God and obey Him unto death, knowing that God’s mind and thoughts are the best. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa 55:7-9).

A Spiritual Mind: "To be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom 8:6), so how can we have a spiritual mind? We "must be born again" (John 3:7) and "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom 12:2). Then, we must walk after the Holy Spirit and submit to His control and guidance through God’s Word (Gal 5:16; Eph 5:18). Satan has painted this world to be so nice, appealing and attractive with "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). However, the Lord Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations as He looked at this world as a sinful and cursed world that will be destroyed. When Satan made use of Peter’s human love to hinder Jesus from doing God’s will, Jesus answered, "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest (think, mind) not the things that be of God, but those that be of men" (Matt 16:23). Thus, we must have the spiritual mind and perspective of Christ when we look at ourselves, at others, and at the world in all situations. In other words, we must think as Jesus thinks, see as He sees, do as He does, and "walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).

THOUGHT: God’s mind is always holy, wise, good and perfect.
PRAYER: Lord, help me think as Thou thinkest in all things.