Weekly Devotional - "A Gospel Mindset" - July 30, 2012

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

 

A GOSPEL MINDSET

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

Romans 1:28

In the last 24 hours, what have you thought about most? Be honest. What person, project, or possibility has taken up the most space in your thought closet? With middle daughter Stephanie’s wedding on Saturday, you don’t have to use much imagination to know what’s filling my mind!

The Apostle Paul had a gospel mindset. He was set apart for the gospel, he preached it with his whole heart, and he did all things for its sake. The gospel filled his mental space and we should strive to have it fill our minds, too.

In Romans chapter 1, Paul unpacks the thought processes of the wicked and the devastating consequences of squeezing the gospel out of your thought life.

The wicked:

·      Suppress God’s truth (v. 18)

·      Trade in God’s truth for lies (v. 25)

·      Ignore God’s truth (v. 19)

·      Refuse to think about God (v. 28)

The consequence? God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done (v. 28). Even though they knew God’s righteous decrees, and understood that their disobedience deserves death, they continued in their wickedness and encouraged others to do the same (Romans 1:32)!

Before we get too wild in pointing fingers or shaking our heads in disbelief, let’s take an honest assessment of our own thought closets. How often do we suppress God’s truth, thinking gossip doesn’t matter much if we only tell a close friend? How often do we trade in God’s truth for lies thinking that obeying God is bondage instead of true freedom? How often do we ignore God’s truth, thinking how we live is up to us, as long as we’re Christians?

These thoughts are stinkin’ thinkin’! We must power up and fill our minds with Gospel truth! Paul said, I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation of everyone who believes (v. 16).

Read His Word. Memorize Scripture. Meditate on it and apply it. Let it so fill your mental space that there’s no room for any thought that is contrary to what the Spirit desires.

Think on it: How will you more fully set your mind on the gospel today?

If we will fill our souls with the written gospel, we will refuse to devote our mental space and energy to the fruitless, even stupefying and degrading stuff that clamors for our attention.

Dallas Willard