Articles
Weeding the Mind
Weeding the Mind
Is our mind attentive to the words of the Master Teacher?
If so, it requires a sober trait of 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 which is not true. We can lie to our heart and believe premarital sex during engagement is okay for a couple committed to be married. Our heart can believe the lie of missing one worship service a week is not as bad as missing two. Our heart can have compassion and pity upon a soul needing rebuke and admonishment. Our heart can be deceived to believe how essential it is to be baptized without being transformed into the “new man” (Colossians 3:9,10).
Self-deception should not characterize Christians. “Be not deceived” is an exhortation stated in many passages (1 Corinthians 6:9; 15:33; Galatians 6:7; James 1:16) with its message directed toward saints of God. If a Christian yields to the temptation of self-deception, what it promises cannot deliver (Hebrews 3:13; 2 Peter 2:18,19).
The truth which should be imbedded in our heart comes from the observation certain Pharisees and Herodians about Jesus in Mark 12:14. “Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest 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. If the truth forever abides in our heart, we will avoid the temptation to think of self 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 your life, and we will never bear fruit (Mark 4:7,19).
