Pastor Don’s Bible Bytes
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3 ESV
“Perfect Peace” in Hebrew is “Shalom Shalom”. In Hebrew repetition signifies intensity. Meaning this term “perfect peace” should not be taken lightly. Isaiah goes on to say “whose mind is stayed on You.”
There’s a popular saying I’ve heard in many sermons that goes… “many people will miss heaven by 18 inches. The distance between your head and your heart.” While I certainly believe that to be true, I don’t think it tells the whole story. As we read in the scriptures below, our minds play an important part in our relationship with the Lord.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:37 ESV
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 ESV
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
Philippians 2:5 ESV
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”
Philippians 3:17-21 ESV
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is 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 ESV
As I stated earlier… Our minds play an important part in our relationship with the Lord. Our minds are similar to the sails on a ship. For a sailing ship to move it must have wind. When our hearts trust in Christ we are driven by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.”
Acts 2:1-2 ESV
“Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.”
Ezekiel 37:9-10 ESV
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8 ESV
Continuing on with the sailing analogy we see that the Holy Spirit is the wind that fills our sails. Jesus is our Navigator. No one sets out to make a voyage without a navigator to set their course. The navigator is the one that keeps the ship safe. He keeps the ship out of harms way. Every true believer has Jesus residing in their heart. Jesus and the Holy Spirit work together to keep us on course. The mind and the heart also work together to keep us on course. If our minds our headed one direction but the navigator is calling us to go another direction, who are you going to listen to? A mind that is stayed on God will always listen to the navigator. When we put our full faith and trust in Him He will never steer us wrong. Will it be “smooth sailing”? Not always! But, with Jesus as our navigator we can rest assured we’ll make it to the other side!
Keep anchored in the sea of God’s love!
Love ya,
Pastor Don