Resources/Articles
Weeding the Mind
The religious connection with Jesus occurs when our minds become attentive to the words of the Master Teacher. One of the things it requires is honesty. Self-examination is predicated on self-integrity. Self-evaluation is no good unless it is an honest appraisal. Proving yourself has no value at all if it is not an honest endeavor (2 Corinthians 13.5).
Satan knows the best counter to an honest heart is a lying heart. A heart which is self-deceived can create a belief in our hearts that is not true. We can lie to our hearts and believe premarital sex during engagement is okay for a couple committed to be married. Our hearts can believe the lie of missing one service a week is not as bad as missing two. Some have been deceived to believe being baptized without being the “new man” (Colossians 3.9-10) gives me a greater hope than being a member of a denomination.
Such self-deception cannot characterize Christians. “Be not deceived” is an exhortation stated in many passages (1 Corinthians 6.9; 15.33; Galatians 6.7; James 1.16). Self-deception is one of the greatest temptations which gives promises it cannot deliver (Hebrews 3.13; 2 Peter 2.18-19).
The truth which should be embedded in our hearts comes from the observation certain Pharisees and Herodians about Jesus in Mark 12.14: “Teacher, we know that thou art true, and cares not for any one; for thou regardest not the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God.” Every disciple should be known to have this conviction. Let this be your life. For if the truth forever abides in our hearts, we will avoid the temptation to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Romans 12.3-4).
Take the time to “weed your mind.” If not, no one will do it for you. Yet, it must be done honestly, or else the words Jesus teaches will be choked out of our lives, and we will never bear fruit (Mark 4.7,19).
