What is in our minds impacts our perspectives and actions. So I tend to pay extra attention when I see the word ‘mind’ in the Bible, where it occurs over 500 times. Lately I have been drawn to three such New Testament passages which, I believe, are critical for us to grasp.

Romans 12:1-18 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will…Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Love must be sincere…Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord… Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality…Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited…if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Philippians 2:5-8 – “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!”

Notice a common theme? The renewed mind, the mindset of Jesus, is servant oriented. The mind is filled more with thoughts of others than of self. Perhaps Jesus demonstrated it best in a third passage. “When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”” (John 13)

Neither John nor Jesus use the word ‘mind’ but it is clear Jesus is encouraging His disciples to share His servant mindset.

I wonder: What our churches would be like of this was our mindset? For that matter, what would our families, neighborhoods, communities, and workplaces be like? What would our politics look like? Keep this in mind – it begins with us.

I am humbled to have a blog featured on the great leadership site Luminex. Check it out!

Not only does it never stop – it increases. Our society’s decrease of civility has become more than a snowball rolling downhill; it’s now like an avalanche. (1)

When was the last time you heard or read a news story about a current political issue that didn’t mention heated opposition – opposition that was fierce and vengeful – opposition that was more personal than philosophical – opposition that spewed revenge rather than reconciliation?

And it’s not only infected our politicians. Most everyday crimes are committed as acts of revenge, relationships are fractured because of desire for revenge, workplaces are shattered by former employees for the sake of revenge, reputations are destroyed because of revenge. People go after one another to put other people in their place, to knock them down and “get even.”

Many are pleading “Let’s end it!” But to no avail. It falls on deaf or plugged ears, bumps up against hard, hate-filled hearts. It becomes easy to throw up our hands in despair and put all our energy into bemoaning the current state of affairs, or even to just give up and accept that “It’s just the way it is.”

But there is another alternative. We can choose God’s way.
In my book A Nation Under God – Reflections from Jeremiah (2) there is a chapter on godly leadership. Here’s a small portion.

“First, a godly leader has a dedication to the principle of righteousness. “This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right.” (Jeremiah 22:3) As Proverbs puts it, “Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:12) Godly leaders have a heart for God and His ways. They value and pursue righteousness so they choose daily to cooperate with God. Consider David. King Saul was unjustly pursuing David. Twice David had opportunity to capture and kill King Saul – and who could blame him? But David knew that doing so was not right by God’s standards so he refused to do so. He knew he was accountable to God. Leaders of nations are ultimately accountable not to the electorate, the lobbyists, or the campaign contributors, but to God. A. W. Tozer stated, “… there can be no tolerance of evil, no laughing off the things that God hates.” (3)

The prophet Daniel well illustrates the principle – he was told to eat what the king served but “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” (Daniel1:8) Godly leaders must act on godly principles. When godly principles cease to matter then religion, truth, honesty, and integrity cease and begin to disappear.”

No wonder Paul wrote “If you keep on biting and devouring each other…you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:15) As we are now seeing, when these things disappear the avalanche occurs. Certainly godly leaders are an important part of the road to recovery. But more important than even godly leaders is you and me. We, too, need to be godly. We need to make a difference in our spheres of influence, whether big or small. The Bible is clear and emphatic in telling us how to do so. Here’s just a partial list.

1. “…Be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50)
2. “…Wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)
3. “…Love one another…” (John 13:34,35 & 15:12,17; Romans 13:8)
4. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10)

5. “…Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
6. “Live in harmony with one another…” (Romans 12:16)
7. “…Stop passing judgment on one another.” (Romans 14:13)
8. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” (Romans 15:7)9. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26)
10. “Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)
11. “…Be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:2)
12. “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32)
13. “…Forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you…” (Ephesians 4:32)
14. “…In humility consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
15. “…Pray for each other.” (James 5:16)

Sounds wonderful, but admittedly it’s hard to live this way. But Paul tells us how. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21) ‘Out of reverence for Christ’ because “To the vilest and most deadly charges Jesus responded with deep, unbroken silence, such as excited the wonder of the judge and the spectators. To the grossest insults, the most violent ill-treatment and mockery that might well bring indignation into the feeblest heart, He responded with voiceless complacent calmness. Those who are unjustly accused, and causelessly ill-treated know what tremendous strength is necessary to keep silence to God.” (4) And that strength comes from Jesus.
So let’s end it! Starting right now! With me! With you! ‘Out of reverence for Christ.’ (5)

(1) Photo by Krzysztof Kowalik on Unsplash
(2)A Nation Under God – Reflections from Jeremiah, Rev. Curry Pikkaart, © 2018 Rev. Curry Pikkaart, Amazon, p. 49
(3) Tozer – Quoted by J. Oswald Sanders in Spiritual Leadership, Chapter 10- https://onegriphigher.com/books-im-reading/spiritual-leadership-oswald-j-sanders/
(4) Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles Cowman – February 10
(5) From Graphic Stock