JP28: THE CULTIVATED MIND: GEARING UP FOR SELFLESS LOVE

My first car was dark green with a wimpy stance and weak engine.  That old Ford cost $600 in mowing money and carried me through high school and college.  

The three-speed manual shifter sat on the steering column between the steering wheel and dash.  After one too many hard shifts, the handle broke off in my hand, leaving the vintage ride stuck in second gear, limping along, but moving forward!  

The religious leaders of Jesus' day were stuck in the wrong gear too.  Instead of moving forward, their outward focus had them stuck in reverse, and rather than drawing nearer to the kingdom of God, they were driving away - fast.  Let us learn from the Pharisees and be certain that we’re in the right gear with Jesus, moving toward eternal life in his kingdom.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.  Matthew 5:27-30

First Gear: Find Value In Heavenly Ways

We might say that those who opposed Jesus were more brand conscious than kingdom conscious. They found value and meaning in earthly things back in ancient times like those of us who name-drop our associations with gurus, clothing brands,  philosophies, tribes, and darling theologies in present times.  

This corrupted, material way of life fortified their egos and guided their spiritual journey away from heaven, less toward love, and more toward spiritual malpractice. It doesn’t have to be that way for us!

Our relationship with Jesus and others is all about the heart.   Explaining why God chose Jesse’s youngest son David to replace Saul as king of Israel, the prophet Samuel said,

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.  

With God’s heavenly perspective in mind, we shouldn’t be surprised when Jesus says “that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” v.27  

Second Gear: Seek Inward Versus Outward Transformation

We might ask that if adultery begins in the heart and mind, why does Jesus advise removing eyes and arms to avoid going too far?  He does so to point out the result of taking external obedience to its logical conclusion.  The person who practices external obedience must ultimately remove their eyes and hands to stop sinning in this way.  This, of course, is preposterous.  

Jesus doesn't expect us to physically maim ourselves to honor him.  The Lord is saying that all of the external disciplines we can muster will not address an inward life corrupted by unrestrained lust.  

Only a heart transformed from the inside out by the power of Jesus can make the big shift from selfish lust to selfless love.

Third Gear: Cultivate The Mind Of Christ

Shifting from selfish lust to selfless love begins with a cultivated mind. We cultivate the mind of Christ when we replace old patterns of thinking with new, starting by taking every thought captive in the wisdom of the Apostle Paul.  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5.  

Instead of allowing our thoughts to run without check, we take them captive immediately, confess them quickly, and direct our minds onto whatever is pure.  To what degree do we take thoughts captive?  Paul answers this way,

"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed because these are improper for God's holy people." Ephesians 5:3.  

Taking every thought captive starts with the smallest hint...take it captive immediately, confess it quickly, direct our minds to whatever is pure.

Fourth Gear: Drive Away From Sexual Immorality

Paul further advises,

"Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.    Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20  

Fleeing means we shift with a sense of urgency to take our thoughts captive, not treat them casually.   Practically speaking, consider restricting access to porn on every device and inviting a close friend to hold you accountable in your work to flee and keep your heart and mind filled with what is good.

We are encouraged to, "behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh." Romans 13:13-14  

Instead of remaining stuck in the wrong gear with dead patterns of living, let’s shift our time and effort into clothing ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ through prayer, bible intake and application, and life in community with others who are following Christ who can pray for us and provide loving encouragement and accountability.  

Shifting our minds and hearts from selfish lust to selfless love is challenging, but we can be made new from the inside out when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, take thoughts captive immediately, confess quickly, and direct our minds whatever is pure by the transforming power that Jesus supplies!  

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, I am grateful for your love and wisdom.  I know that you can make my heart and mind new as I fully trust in you.  Holy Spirit, remind me moment by moment to take every thought captive so that my mind, heart, and actions are aligned with pure motives and authenticity.   May it be so in the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

The Cultivated Mind: Gearing Up For Selfless Love

First Gear: Find Value In Heavenly Ways

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4

Second Gear: Seek Inward Versus Outward Transformation

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7-8

Third Gear: Cultivate The Mind Of Christ

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

Fourth Gear: Flee From Sexual Immorality

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” Colossians 3:5-7

Productivity and Blocking Apps

Freedom: Allows users to customize the blocking of distracting apps for set periods of time.

Accountable2You: Records all internet browsing activity on mobile and stationary devices and sends reports of questionable activities to the user’s accountability partner.  Family plans are available.

Covenant Eyes: Same concept as Accountable2You.

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Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash