SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
John 7:11-24
John 7:24

"Judge not according to the appearance,
but judge righteous judgment."

A SANCTIFIED MIND (11)

The observation and judgment of our mind must be sanctified as well. We must not look at others and judge them "according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" according to God’s Word and the perfect example of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:24). The Lord Jesus has warned us not to be naive, but to "beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits" so that we may not be deceived (Matt 7:15-16). Many have been deceived by false prophets, bishops, pastors and teachers unawares! Many cult members whose minds were controlled by their cult leaders (eg. Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple, David Koresh of the Branch Davidians) were killed together with their leaders in suicide pacts! Many cannot biblically control their minds after seeking and following the counsel and advice from psychologists, hypnotists, psychics, false pastors and religious leaders. We must beware!

The imagination of our human mind must be sanctified too. Human "imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen 6:5). When you see a man talking with a pretty woman alone in a room, what does your imagination tell you? We can see ungodly products of human imagination through worldly novels, movies and dramas. Sadly, many professing Christians consider it alright to watch worldly movies and read ungodly novels (eg. novels about Harry Potter)! Our imagination needs to be sanctified by Jesus’ blood, the Holy Spirit and God’s Word so that it may help us see pictures of Bible truths in our mind, eg. the Lord Jesus chasing the merchants out of the temple, His washing of His disciples’ feet, etc. The memory in our mind also needs to be sanctified. There are so many things occupying and wasting our memory! Our memory must be cleansed and separated from sinful self, ungodly pictures, painful experiences, unnecessary matters, etc. It must be sanctified to store God’s Word, to remember the Lord, His grace and commandments, our duties to God and men, our loved ones and others in prayer, etc.

THOUGHT: Is my judgment, imagination and memory sanctified?
PRAYER: Lord, please sanctify my mind and use it for Thy glory.