Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."
Text: Ephesians 4:23-24
SIN DOES NOT HAVE TO DOMINATE US
It is hard to battle sins in life. While we will not be able to have a life of sinless perfection on earth, nevertheless, we do not need to have sin dominate us. How may we battle sin successfully? Paul suggests a strong battle plan.
AND BE RENEWED (“ananeousthai”)
This is a most interesting word. Literally, it could be translated “to be made new or young again”. The word “renewed” well describes what the believer must do. He must not indulge the old nature. Instead, he must ever seek to be renewed.
THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND
We must make a distinction between the brain, which is essentially a physical organ and the mind. The focus of the act of renewal is not of the physical organ. The brain will fade in its strength as all physical (material) things do, in the process of time.
Paul’s focus is quite different in this text. He speaks of the mind rather than the brain. And he speaks of the mind as “spirit”. How should we understand this?
1. Distinction between the body and the spirit
Man is made up of two parts, essentially. There is a physical part, which we call the body (“soma”). There is another part, an immaterial part, which we call the “spirit” (“pneuma”). In this text Paul focuses on the “pneuma” rather than the “soma”.
2. The spirit of the mind
a) There is a close connection between the brain and the mind.
i) The brain processes thoughts.
ii) The mind goes beyond mere thoughts.
iii) The mind is capable of developing thoughts till “a mindset” is formed.
b) The mind may be described as “spirit”.
i) It is distinguished from the physical organ (the brain).
ii) It is alive and functioning.
iii) It is capable of being renewed.
THE SPIRIT OF THE MIND VERSUS THE OLD NATURE
Paul offers this wondrous thought- that the spirit of the mind, when carefully renewed, is able to overcome the old nature! (Paul discusses this subject in greater length in Romans 6). What a glorious sense of hope and joy must flood the soul at this thought- that renewal of the spirit of the mind can help us overcome the problem of sin.