FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
1 Corinthians 2:10

"But God hath revealed them
unto us by his Spirit…"

A SANCTIFIED MIND (10)

To have a sanctified mind, we must separate ourselves from human and worldly wisdom, understanding, mindsets and unbiblical doctrines, movements and isms. No matter how smart, intelligent, scholarly and knowledgeable we may be, we have to set aside all our pre-understanding, prejudices and reasoning when we come to God and His Word. We must come to God and His Word with a humble, prayerful, teachable, submissive and receptive heart, asking for His wisdom, understanding and illumination. The Holy Spirit is "the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (Isa 11:2), and He is able to guide you and me into "all truth" (John 16:13), to teach and help us know God and understand His Word biblically and properly (1 Cor 2:10-13; Eph 1:17-18; 1 John 2:20).

With a sanctified mind controlled by the Holy Spirit, we will be able to understand and interpret the Scripture properly. We will not dare to add our own thoughts and pre-understanding to the Scripture when we interpret a Bible text nor subtract any words from the text when those words seem to contradict our human mind, reasoning or worldly mindsets. We will humbly pray and wait for the illumination of the Holy Spirit when we cannot understand any part of the Scripture. We will not dare to regard those parts as mistakes or contradictions as many arrogant "scholars" do nowadays. The Holy Spirit is the Divine Author of God’s Word (the Holy Scripture), so we must submit ourselves to the authority and guidance of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word with humility, reverence, trust and submission. Truly, "For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" (Isa 66:2). Once the Holy Spirit illumines our mind and heart to understand God’s Word, we shall appreciate it, treasure it, live by it, and use our sanctified mind and reasoning to defend it (Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4; Acts 17:2). What about you?

THOUGHT: I need the illumination and teaching of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Lord, please illumine me and teach me Thy Truth.