Well, good morning and happy Mother's Day.
If you will please take out your copy of God's Word and join me in Romans chapter 12.
!
I find these two verses to be of great importance for the church of our day.
In an age of post-modernity and moral relativism, we find ourselves particularly susceptible to the temptation of allowing our passions to lead the charge in directing our lives.
To let emotions rule the day.
If you have no truth, what is left?
It's whatever you feel may be true.
And this just should not be so amongst Christians.
We are to be a distinct people set apart for the glory of Christ.
And Paul, in part, tells us how this is to be in these two verses.
So Romans 12, verse 1 and 2 is our text for today.
Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's Word to us.
It was written for His glory and our good, and so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
Paul writes,
And we will spend the bulk of our time and attention this morning drawing out the meaning of the phrase.
Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
And we're going to move quick this morning because I have more notes than I normally do.
But before we get to that phrase, we must take a look at the preceding words of Paul's exhortation.
He begins at the beginning of chapter 12 with,
I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God.
Verse 1 contains the conjunctive adjective, therefore.
And these conjunctions in the Bible carry a great deal of weight and should be paid a special attention to.
You could think of the phrase, for that reason, in the place of the word, therefore, which begs, for what reason?
This little word, just three Greek letters in the original language,
bridges everything that Paul has said in the first 11 chapters to everything he will say in the following five chapters.
So, this, therefore, is packed full of meaning.
The first 11 chapters of Romans is Paul's magnum opus of Christian theology.
It is the most extensive and clearest defense of justification by grace alone, through faith alone,
in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
We've been deriving that across the past months.
It speaks to the Christ followers' adoption in Jesus and identification with Christ as our federal head.
Paul tells us that we are no longer captives of the law, but captives of grace.
He speaks of the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit who intercedes for us,
leads us in holiness, and helps us in all our affliction.
He gives us reason for patient hope as we stand in God's election,
the certainty of coming glory,
the confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God,
and total assurance in God's continued faithfulness.
He then works out what all this means for missions.
Condemnation, justification, adoption,
soteriology, pneumatology, missiology.
It is grand and all contained in this therefore,
and all summarized by the phrase,
by the mercies of God.
Paul is making an appeal to his brothers,
and he wants to root it in all that he has taught so far in this letter.
Therefore, then, accordingly, consequently,
these things being so,
indicating that something follows from another thing necessarily.
Because God has been so merciful to you,
Paul says,
I appeal to you, brothers.
Paul's appeal is for those who have received the mercies of God,
those who are adopted sons.
And ladies, you want to be sons in Christ,
receiving all the benefits of the Father.
Adopted in Christ,
as Paul is,
those who are co-heirs with Jesus.
For anything that Paul will go on to say to be of any benefit to you,
you must ensure that you are counted in this number here called brothers.
If you have yet to place saving faith in the personal work of the Lord Jesus Christ,
turn from your sin and throw yourself on his mercies.
Assuming that you are a brother,
including you, ladies, moms, this morning.
Paul moves from doctrine to practice,
from theology to ethics,
from foundation to application.
And what is it that Paul urges us to do in light of the mercies of God?
Two, present your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual worship.
The word present in Greek is an active, aorist, imperative verb.
It is the same word used in the Septuagint,
which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament,
to speak of the priestly duty of sacrifice,
which Paul develops in the next phrase.
This type of verb means that this presentation is a decisive,
deliberate, and continuous surrender of our whole selves,
over and over and over again.
We are urged by Paul to present our bodies as a living sacrifice,
not one that is slaughtered and laid on an altar,
but one that lives devotedly for the aim of the glory of God.
The word here translated bodies is used in the New Testament
to speak of the physical body,
but is more commonly used to speak of the whole self.
So all of us, decisively, deliberately, and continuously,
because of the mercies of God,
are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice,
give all of ourselves in devotion to God.
Paul then qualifies the presenting of our whole selves
as a living sacrifice with the word holy
and the phrase acceptable to God.
What kind of sacrifice are we to be?
One that has been set apart for a particular purpose.
One that has been declared without spot or blemish.
But I suggest, as Paul transitions this letter from doctrine to practice,
one that is also in the process of being made pure.
Justification, Paul has argued, guarantees sanctification.
Having been saved guarantees that we're going to be made perfect in very degree.
And he is urging our part in this glorious work of God.
So it is this sacrifice that is acceptable to God.
One that has been washed and one that is being washed.
Paul then says that this decisively, deliberately, and continuously offered whole self-sacrifice
is your spiritual worship.
The word translated spiritual is an interesting one.
And a tricky one to assign a single English word to.
I am using an English standard version of the Bible.
Some translations, you may have one open in front of you today,
render this word reasonable.
And, on first glance, you may think that these English words run in contradiction to each other.
Spiritual and reasonable.
This Greek word is the word that we get our English word logic from.
So reasonable or logical are fair words here, but still not perfect.
The word sets itself in contrast to the material world.
The Greek word sets itself in contrast to the material world.
It is the rational immaterial that it is concerned with.
But that would be a clunky translation, wouldn't it?
This is your rational immaterial service.
Which is why we get the word spiritual in the ESV and many other good translations.
So, what are we to think of this word?
First, let's praise God for the faithful work of good Bible translators
and for Greek tools to dig around a little bit deeper on these words.
Second, Paul is introducing this idea that he is going to flesh out for us in the following verse.
And here it is.
The transformative power of God for sacrificial living begins in the mind.
Our faith is a mindful faith.
There is one other place in the New Testament that this Greek word is used
and rendered once again spiritual in the ESV.
It's found in 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 2.
There Peter writes,
Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk
that by it you may grow up into salvation.
What is the pure spiritual milk that Peter is talking about?
The saving knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So, it could have been translated like newborn infants long for the pure reasonable milk.
Knowledgeable milk.
Before we have received the practicality of verse 2,
bear with me as I present a bit more proof
that our faith is a mindful faith.
Paul has much to say about this.
I will show you three examples from four texts in rather rapid fashion.
Are you ready?
Hang on.
If you turn back just a few pages to Romans chapter 8,
I'll begin reading in verse 5.
There Paul says,
Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh.
But those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
For to set the mind on the flesh is death,
but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,
for it does not submit to God's law.
Indeed, it cannot.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit.
If, in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you,
anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ
does not belong to Him.
So you see the functional work of the Spirit in the life of the Christian,
in part,
is to take their mind
to the things of God.
The things of the Spirit are the things of God.
The Word of God.
Another text.
Now this is Ephesians chapter 5.
If you'd like to join me, feel free.
If not, listen carefully.
Beginning in verse 17.
Therefore, do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not get drunk with wine,
for that is debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit.
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Now to show you this,
I need to take you to a parallel passage to this one.
And I read so much of that
because I want you to see them as parallel passages.
So that was Ephesians 5, 17-21.
Now listen to Colossians 3, 12-17.
And I'll point out why it matters in just a second.
There, Paul writes,
Put on then, as God's chosen ones,
holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing with one another,
and if one has a complaint against another,
forgiving each other,
as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
And above all these, put on love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony,
and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body,
and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
You probably heard a lot of similar language throughout there.
I hope that you heard,
I'm going to draw your attention to two phrases
just before this idea of teaching and admonishing one another
in songs, hymns, spiritual songs.
Right?
In Ephesians, you see the phrase,
be filled with the Spirit.
In Colossians, you see the phrase,
let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
And so I think what Paul's communicating to us
as you look at these passages,
Romans chapter 8, Ephesians chapter 5,
Colossians chapter 3,
is that for those who are filled with the Spirit,
those who are walking by the Spirit,
who are setting our minds on the things of the Spirit,
that means that the word of Christ is dwelling within us.
We have a mindful faith.
One final text, an example, very briefly,
2 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 5.
There Paul says,
we destroy arguments
and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God
and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Christ.
Our faith is a mindful faith.
And don't hear me saying
that there's no place for emotion in our faith.
What I'm saying is,
it should be led mindfully.
I do not have the time to prove
what I'm about to say to you,
but nonetheless,
I think it important to say at this point,
our earthly existence
is a dichotomous existence.
And this is probably not the best word
for our existence,
as it means branching out
or in some cases set against.
But the point is that we are made of two parts.
We are two parts.
We are bodies
and we are souls.
And better yet,
we could say we are embodied souls.
This is the state of your earthly existence.
There is the part of us
that is readily observable
through plain vision
or instrumentation
like an x-ray
or CT scan
or microscope.
And then there is the part of us
that is not so readily observable
like our affections,
our sorrows,
our thoughts.
We are embodied souls.
If you have trouble in this world
and you certainly do and will,
then those troubles fit within a Venn diagram
of being either physical,
which means you need physical relief,
or spiritual,
and often but not always
some intersection between the two.
Your spiritual issues
need spiritual solutions
which begin
in the mind.
John Owen,
in his book
Spiritual Mindedness,
which I commend to you,
a quote that's on the back of your bulletin
said this,
The mind is a leading faculty
of the soul.
When the mind fixes upon an object
or course of action,
the will and the affections
follow suit.
They are incapable
of any other consideration.
The mind's office
is to guide,
to direct,
to choose,
and to lead.
End quote.
So our faith
is a mindful faith.
It's not a stoic faith,
but it is
mindful.
Beware of anybody
that teaches you
that Christianity
is first and foremost
an emotional endeavor.
Now let's look at verse 2
and because
it's been a minute
since we read it,
let's read it
once again.
Paul says,
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.
Verse 2
is an explanation
of how we are to fulfill
the encouragement
of verse 1,
which Paul will then
work out in greater detail
to the very end
of the chapter.
He begins with the negative
part of the exhortation,
Do not be conformed
to this world.
To be conformed
is from a word
that means
shaped
or molded.
It refers to the
outward appearance
of a thing
and not the substance
of it.
Paul is saying
that we are not
of this world
and therefore
we should not look
like we are
of this world.
World could also
be rendered age,
which I prefer.
I think it pulls
our thinking
beyond just the material
and presses us
to think toward
the immaterial.
Thoughts,
emotions,
motivations,
ideology,
and so forth.
G.C. Trench
in his book
Synonyms of the New Testament
on this word
world
or age
says this,
quote,
that floating mass
of thoughts,
opinions,
maxims,
speculations,
hopes,
impulses,
aims,
aspirations,
at any time
current in the world
which it may be impossible
to seize
and accurately define,
but which constitute
a most real
and effective power
being the moral
or immoral atmosphere
which at every moment
of our lives
we inhale
again inevitably
to exhale,
end quote.
Right?
This is explanation
of this word,
world.
Do not be conformed
to that.
Paul distinguishes
this world
or age
from the will
of God
which is good
and acceptable
and perfect.
So the spirit
of this age
runs in contradiction
to the ways
of God
and we ought
to not be conformed
to it.
It will always
be pressing
onto us
and into us.
The age
in which we live
cries out
for conformity.
But our reasonable
worship
is to rather
be transformed
by the renewal
of our minds.
We are to be changed
by thinking
differently
than this age.
This Greek word
is where we derive
our word
metamorphosis.
Whereas to be
conformed
is in contradiction
with our nature.
To be transformed
is to be becoming
consistent
with our nature.
we have been
made new
in Christ.
So we are to be
about appearing
new
in
Christ
by the grace
that God provides.
This is
the glorious
work
of sanctification.
Paul says of us
in 2 Corinthians 3
and verse 18
and we all
with unveiled face
beholding
the glory
of the Lord
are being
transformed
into the same
image
from one
degree
of glory
to another.
For this
comes
from the Lord
who is the Spirit.
He is the Spirit
working in us
to make us
look more
like Christ
bit
by bit
by bit.
The Spirit
of Christ
empowers us
to look
more like Him
as He leads
us
in the Word
of Christ.
I see my argument
coming together
here.
What part
do we
play?
This is an
exhortation
to us
to be
transformed
by the
renewal
of our
mind.
What are we
to be about
in this
work
of being
transformed?
Before I
spend the
remainder of
our time
addressing
this question
I want
to make
a brief
aside
concerning
mental
health
by making
four
axiomatic
statements.
I don't
want to
oversimplify
this.
There are
complications
in the
world
in which
we live.
Four
quick
statements
and then
we'll
press on.
Number
one,
we are
embodied
souls
and our
thinking
faculty
takes place
within an
organ
that is
susceptible
to the
curse.
There is
a gray
matter
organ
in which
all
the
neurons
fire.
This is
where our
thinking
is
going
on.
It is
also
susceptible
to the
curse.
I'm a
type 1
diabetic
and my
pancreas
does not
produce
insulin.
In the
same way,
we should
understand
that the
organ
is
susceptible.
Secondly,
some,
not all,
but some
of our
spiritual
problems
intersect
a
physical
problem.
My
really big
and obvious
common
example of
this is
schizophrenia.
This is a
physical
problem going
on in the
brain,
but it
has
spiritual
implications
and both
need to
be
addressed.
Thirdly,
physical
problems
are never
an excuse
for sin.
They don't
become
entitlement
to sin
against God
because,
fourthly,
God is
more
powerful
than your
physical
and,
for that
matter,
spiritual
problems.
He is
more
powerful.
1 Corinthians
10,
13,
Paul says,
no temptation
has overtaken
you that
is not
common
to man.
So,
guess what?
You're not
unique.
You don't
get a
pass on
your sin.
God
is faithful
and he
will not
let you
be tempted
beyond
your ability,
but with
the temptation
he will
also provide
the way
of escape
that you
may be
able
to endure
it.
So,
grace
comes
with it
and God
is more
powerful
than your
physical
or
spiritual
problems.
Okay,
so,
what are
we to
do in
the work
of being
transformed
by the
renewal
of our
minds?
What is
the activity
that we're
meant to
be engaging
in?
Let me show
you two
biblical
examples
and one
extra
biblical
so that we
can learn
just a bit
about it.
So,
if you will,
please join me
in Genesis
chapter 3.
In the
fall,
I want you
to see a
negative
example
of the
leading of
the mind.
Here we
see beginning
in verse 1,
now the
serpent was
more crafty
than any
other beast
of the
field
that the
Lord God
had made.
He said
to the
woman,
he addresses
her at
her point
of faculty,
did God
actually say
you shall
not eat
of any
tree
in the
garden?
Satan
tempts
Eve to
doubt
God's
word,
to doubt
the
truth.
And the
woman said
to the
serpent,
we may
eat of
the fruit
of the
trees
in the
garden,
but God
said,
you shall
not eat
of the
fruit
of the
tree
that is
in the
midst
of the
garden,
neither
shall
you
touch
it,
lest
you
die.
So here,
Eve fails
because
Eve adds
to God's
word.
The very
first
legalist
in the
Bible.
As you can
see in
Genesis 2,
verse 16
and 17,
Lord God
commanded
the
man saying,
you may
surely
eat of
every
tree
of
the
garden,
but of
the
tree
of
the
knowledge
of
good
and
evil,
you
shall
not
eat,
for in
the day
that you
eat of
it,
you shall
surely
die.
Eve has
added this
prohibition
from
touching
as well.
But the
serpent
said to
the woman,
you will
not
surely
die.
He
tempts
Eve to
doubt
God's
goodness,
for God
knows that
when you
eat of
it,
your eyes
will be
open and
you will
be like
God,
knowing
good
and
evil.
So,
Eve
disbelieves
God.
This is
a mental
activity
that's
going on
and then
we see
the results.
So,
when the
woman saw
that the
tree
was good
for
food,
it is
objectively
not,
and that
it was a
delight to
the eyes
and that
the tree
was to
be
desired
to make
one
wise,
she took
of its
fruit
and ate
and she
also gave
some to
her husband
who was
with her
and he
ate.
A failure
on both
of their
parts
to let
their
minds
lead
and win
the day.
Second
example,
let's go to
Psalm 73.
Turn with
me if you
will.
Psalm 73.
Asaph,
one of the
Old Testament
saints I
look forward
to meeting
someday.
And we
see a
complete
arc in
this
Psalm of
his
thinking.
He feels
a way
and then
he
thinks
and feels
a different
way.
Starts out
in verse
1.
Truly,
God is
good to
Israel.
For me,
my feet
had almost
stumbled.
My steps
had nearly
slipped.
And he
tells us
the story
of what
happened.
For I
was
envious
of the
arrogant
when I
saw the
prosperity
of the
wicked.
For they
have no
pangs
until death.
Their
bodies
are fat
and
sleek.
They
are not
in
trouble
as
others
are.
They
are not
stricken
like the
rest
of
mankind.
Therefore,
pride is
their
necklace.
Violence
covers
them
as a
garment.
Their
eyes
swell
out
through
fatness,
seen as
a good
thing.
Their
hearts
overflow
with
follies.
They
scoff
and speak
with
malice.
Loftily
they
threaten
oppression.
They
set their
mouths
against
the
heavens
and
their
tongue
!
struts
through
the
earth.
!
So he
observes
people who
are not
following
God
and they
just seem
to be
doing
great.
They
have
favor
with
the
people.
Nothing's
going
bad
in
their
lives
at
all.
And
then he
says,
verse
13,
all
in
vain
have
I
kept
my
heart
clean
and
washed
my
hands
in
innocence.
For
all the
day
long
I
have
been
stricken
and
rebuked
every
morning.
This
is the
way
that he
feels
about
his
pursuit
of
God,
his
pursuit
of
innocence.
It's
been
in
vain
that
I
have
done
this.
But
verse
15,
if I
had
said,
I
will
speak
thus,
what
he's
just
said.
He
recognizes
that it's
not
true.
It's
an
evil
thing
for
him
to
say
this
and
to
feel
this
way.
But
when
I
thought
how
to
understand
this,
it
seemed
to
me
a
wearisome
task.
How
is it
that they
prosper
and I
don't?
I'm
the
one
that's
pursuing
!
God
and
they're
not?
Why
am I
getting
the short
end
of
the
stick?
Verse 17,
until I
went
into the
sanctuary
of God.
Then I
discerned
their
end.
Their
end.
Then the
truth
of where
they're
headed
came to
light.
Truly,
you set
them in
slippery
places.
You make
them fall
to ruin.
How they
are destroyed
in a
moment,
swept
away
utterly
by
terrors.
Like a
dream when
one awakes,
O Lord,
when you
rouse
yourself,
you despise
them as
phantoms.
That's
what will
happen to
them.
The
truth
begins to
take its
place in
his mind.
He
says,
when my
soul was
embittered,
when I
was pricked
in heart,
I was
brutish
and ignorant.
I was
like a
beast
toward
you.
Nevertheless,
even
though I
let emotions
rule the
day,
nevertheless,
I am
continually
with you.
You
hold
my
right
hand.
You
guide
me
with
your
counsel
and
afterward
you
will
receive
me
to
glory.
Whom
have I
in heaven
but you?
And there
is nothing
on earth
that I
desire
besides you.
My
flesh and
my heart
may fail,
but God
is the
strength of
my heart
and my
portion
forever.
For
behold,
those who
are far
from you
shall
perish.
You
put an
end to
everyone
who
is
unfaithful
to
you.
But
for
me
it
is
good
to
be
near
God.
I
have
made
the
Lord
God
my
refuge
that
I
may
tell
of
all
your
works.
So
see the
arc
through
that,
the
mindful
faith
of
Asaph.
What
does he
do?
He
picks up
the
things
that
God
has
said
to
be
true
and
he
meditates
on
them
and
he
let
them
lead
him
out.
One
more
positive
example.
This
is
extra
biblical.
I
recognize
that
some
of
you
don't
love
this
but
I
do
and
I
have
the
microphone
so
bear
with
me.
This
is
from
the
Pilgrim's
Progress.
Again,
a work
that I
commend,
commend
to
you.
And
in
this
part
of
the
story,
Christian
is
along
on his
journey
with
a
man
named
Hopeful
and
they
have
left
gone
over
a
little
stile
into
a
field.
They
fall
asleep
and
they're
taken
captive
by a
giant
named
Despair.
He
takes
them,
he
locks
them
in
the
dungeon
of
his
castle
called
Doubting
Castle
where
he
is
there
with
his
wife
distrust.
So
there's
an
anguish
going
on
with
Christian
and
with
Hopeful.
They're
not
believing
the
promises
of
God
and
they
are
despairing.
They're
in a
sorrowful
place.
Their
emotions
are
leading
the
charge
in
this
little
episode.
And
so
time
has
gone
on.
I'm
going
to
spare
you
very
much
reading
of
it.
But
the
giant
has
come
and
beat
them
almost
to
the
point
of
death.
And
he
has
promised
that
he'll
now
take
care
of
them
the
following
day.
I
pick
up
reading
here.
Quote,
Around
midnight,
Christian
hopeful
began to
pray and
continue
till
almost
the
break
of
day.
Shortly
before
the
sun
came
up,
good
Christian,
as one
half
amazed,
broke
out into
this
passionate
speech.
What a
fool
I
am
to
lie
in
a
stinking
dungeon
when
I
might
instead
walk
at
liberty.
I
have
a
key
in
my
bosom
called
promise
that
I
believe
will
open
any
lock
in
doubting
castle.
Promise
God's
word
to
him.
Hopeful
responded,
that is
good news,
good
brother.
Take
it out
and
let's
try
it.
Then
Christian
pulled
it out
of his
bosom
and
began
trying
to
unlock
the
dungeon
door.
The
door's
bolt
as he
turned
the
key
came
loose
and
the
door
flew
open
with
ease.
Christian
and
hopeful
both
came
out
and
they're
pursued
but
they
make
it
safely
out
of
doubting
castle
letting
the
truth
reign
in
the
moment.
So
a couple
of
practical
steps
for
to be
transformed
by
the
renewing
of
our
minds
we
are
going
to
need
number
one
to
read.
I
always
encourage
wide
broad
reading
but
primarily
we need
to be
reading
God's
word.
If the
spirit
of
Christ
is to
take
up
the
word
of
Christ
in
our
lives
it's
going
to
have
to
be
inside
of
us.
Paul
says in
2 Timothy
3
16
and 17
all
scripture
is
breathed
out
by
God
and
profitable
for
teaching
for
reproof
for
correction
and
for
training
in
righteousness
that
the
man
of
God
may
be
complete
equipped
for
every
good
work.
How are we
to navigate
the challenges
of this
world?
How are we
to do
anything?
By the
truth that
God
provides
for us.
The spirit
employing
it
in
our
lives.
I
said at
the
beginning
of
our
time
together
that
in
an
age
of
post
modernity
and
moral
relativism
we
find
ourselves
particularly
susceptible
to the
temptation
of allowing
our
passions
to lead
the
charge
in
directing
our
lives.
This
just
shouldn't
be so.
John
Piper
in his
book
on
regeneration
called
Finally
!
Alive
wrote
this,
My
feelings
are
not
God.
God
is
God.
My
feelings
do
not
define
truth.
God's
word
defines
truth.
My
feelings
are
echoes
and
responses
to
what
my
mind
perceives.
And
sometimes,
many
times,
my
feelings
are
out
of
sync
with
the
truth.
When
that
happens,
and it
happens
every
day
in
some
measure,
I
try
not
to
bend
the
truth
to
justify
my
imperfect
feelings,
but
rather,
I
plead
with
God,
purify
my
perceptions
of
your
truth
and
transform
my
feelings
so that
they are
in sync
with
the
truth.
End
quote.
The
average
American
spends
one
hour
and
twenty
seven
minutes
playing
video
games
per
day,
that
just
pains
me
deep
down
in,
and
two
hours
and
fourteen
minutes
on
social
media.
I
am
sure
that
I
am
speaking
to
an
exceptional
group
of
individuals,
but
perhaps
this
is
true
of
us
in
at
least
some
measure.
That's
three
hours
and
forty
one
minutes
a
day
spent
unnecessarily
in front
of a
screen.
Not
all bad,
I'm not
saying that
all of
that is
bad,
wasted
time,
but
that's
a lot
of
time.
For
further
perspective,
that's
529
hours
and
fifteen
minutes
of
video
gaming
per
year
and
815
hours
and
ten
minutes
of
social
media
consumption
per
year.
1,344
hours
and
twenty
five
minutes
total
per
year.
I
didn't
do
the
math,
but
you
should
divide
that
by
365
and
see
how
many
days
that
is.
Now
it
takes
on
average
an
individual
78
hours
to
read
the
entirety
of
the
Bible.
Which
means
that
if
the
average
American
replaced
their
video
game
and
social
media
consumption,
I'm not
saying
you need
to do
that,
but
if
you did
with
Bible
reading,
you could
read the
whole
Bible
a bit
more
than
17
times
per
year.
We
have
time
to be
in
God's
word.
Ready
for another
one?
The
average
American
spends
11
hours
and
42
minutes
per
week
working
out,
including
stretching,
warm-up,
cool-down.
That's
608
hours
and
24
minutes
per
year,
which
is
enough
time
to
read
the
entirety
of
the
Bible
almost
eight
times.
Don't
stop
taking care
of your
bodies.
That's a
good
thing to
do,
but
we
have
time.
Paul
says in
1 Timothy
4,
8,
God
is
of
some
value.
God
is
of
value
in
every
way
as
it
holds
promise
for
the
present
life
and
also
for
the
life
to
come.
We
need to
be
regular
readers
of God's
word.
We
need to
take it
in
high
amounts
again,
again.
We
are
to be
people
of
this
word,
right?
Arm
the
spirit
in
your
life
to
take
it
up
and
give
it
application.
Almost
all
of
the
counseling
I
do
in
this
church,
not
all,
but
almost
all
the
counseling
I
do
in
this
church
begins
with
how's
your
Bible
reading?
And
very
often
it's
not
going
too
well.
Somebody's
not
spending
much
time
with
the
Lord
in
his
word.
So
we
need
to
read
it.
Not
only
that
though,
we
also
need
to
reflect
upon
it.
Every
single
one
of
us,
myself
whatever
is
going
on
in
our
lives.
It
must
be
something
that
is
active
inside
of
us.
Psalm
chapter
one
verse
one
and
two
blessed
is
the
man
who
walks
not
in
the
counsel
of
the
wicked
nor
stands
in
the
way
of
sinners
nor
sits
in
the
seat
of
scoffers
but
his
delight
is
in
the
law
of
the
Lord
and
on
his
law
he
meditates
day
and
night.
Fairly
clear
takes
the
time
to
think
about
it.
Steps
into
situations
and
is
constantly
running
everything
through
the
filter
of
God's
word.
How
does
God's
word
speak
to
me
in
this
moment
and
that
moment
and
that
moment?
The
entirety
of
our
lives
should
be
shaped
by
God's
word.
Psalm
119
verse
9
and
11
How
can
a
young
man
keep
his
way
pure?
By
guarding
it
according
to
your
word.
With
my
whole
heart
I
seek
you.
Let
me
not
wander
from
your
commandments.
I
have
stored
up
your
word
in
my
heart
that
I
might
not
sin
against
you.
We
need
to
read
it
and
we
need
to
be
considering
it
reflecting
upon
it
and
finally
we
need
to
be
resting
in
it.
Isaiah
chapter
26
in
verse
3
You
keep
him
in
perfect
peace
whose
mind
is
stayed
on
you
because
he
trusts
in
you.
This
world
is
a
troubling
place
in
which
to
live.
Knowing
God's
word
for
us
steadies
us
through
all
of
those
storms.
Paul
in his
letter
to the
Philippians
after
his
exhortation
against
anxious
living
says
this
rejoice
always
in the
Lord
again
I
will
say
rejoice
let
your
reasonableness
be
known
to
everyone
the
Lord
is
at
hand
do
not
be
anxious
about
anything
but
in
everything
by
prayer
and
supplication
with
thanksgiving
let
your
requests
be
made
known
to
God
and
the
peace
of
God
which
surpasses
all
understanding
will
guard
your
hearts
and
minds
in
Christ
Jesus
finally
brothers
whatever
is
true
whatever
is
honorable
whatever
is
just
whatever
is
pure
whatever
if there
is
anything
worthy
of
praise
think
about
these
things
this is
what should
occupy
our minds
and I
would challenge
you to
take
to take
that list
and run
the things
that you're
spending your
mind on
through that
list
and see
what comes
out the
other
side
I
hope
lots
of
good
stuff
perhaps
there's
some
things
we need
to
turn
our
attention
away
from
that
we
might
turn
ourselves
to
God's
word
and
rest
within
it
so
Paul
says
I
appeal
to
you
therefore
by
the
mercies
of
God
present
your
whole
self
your
whole
self
as a
continual
sacrifice
to
God
holy
and
acceptable
which
is
your
spiritual
reasonable
worship
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
and
I
will
tell
you
that
I
don't
believe
that
this
is
some
kind
of
formula
for
figuring
out
the
hidden
will
of
God
for
your
life
but
rather
he's
saying
if
you're
engrossed
in
God's
word
you're
going
to
know
what
God
would
have
you
do
and
he's
!
about
acceptable
and
perfect
things
are
on
their
way
so
let's
ask
for
God's
favor
as
we
continue
as