1 Corinthians 2:9-16
Introduction
Smartphones are an important part of communication. Not only can we make and receive calls on them, we can also seamlessly access text messages, search the internet, play games, watch television, and share information with our friends and loved ones.
Years ago, cell phones were not equipped to provide the same kind of information they do now. Today, anyone who attempts to use an older phone will be limited according to the capabilities of that phone; they are limited to the technology that was available when it was new.
There is a constant state of renewal that takes place on today’s smart devices. Makers of smartphones are constantly updating the hardware to reflect new advances in technology. Additionally, constant software updates allow access to new information and notifications, which add to what the phone can do. Older phones are not as well-equipped or able to receive the same type of software updates as a smart device.
Like the notifications on our phones, our minds send notifications to our brain. Those notifications then govern our actions in any situation. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, we received new minds. It is our responsibility as believers to abide in the word of God to receive the spiritual notifications and updates He sends us through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16 affirms the new mind we have in Christ. This new mind allows us to access divine thinking so we can see God’s supernatural work in our lives. Without the advances of the new mind, we are limited to relying only on our humanity. By using old ways of thinking, we form habits that are rooted in the flesh rather than the Spirit. The only way He can illuminate and transform our lives is if we reboot our minds to adjust to God’s perspective.
Getting Started
- When you need to troubleshoot a problem in your life, where do you look for assistance? Is your first choice to Google it or do you ask for advice from your friends? Think about the number of times your friends told you to googled it. At what point do you seek God’s wisdom and perspective?
- How often do you communicate with the Holy Spirit? If our brains are capable of communicating with God once every ten seconds, how close are you to reaching that?
Let’s Get Personal
- Can you remember a time when you measured something in your life by what culture says, instead of by what Christ says? What was the outcome? What could have been the outcome if you measured it by Christ’s standards?
Take the Next Step
- Want to go deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Romans 8:1-13; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; James 1:5
Renew Your Mind
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 2:16
