iCrucified

[22APRIL2012] Eastertide Devotional Series

I will be posting this devotional series as part of my Eastertide reflections for the next three weeks (see this link for other installments in the series). Each week of this devotional series focuses on a specific theme (week one: brokenness, week two: repentance, and week three: renewal). I hope you’ll enjoy the series and I invite you to comment here on the blog or email me direct; I would love to hear your thoughts.

Renewal: Week 3 | Day 1

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-21, Titus 3:4-6

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”

Today begins the final week of our three-week Eastertide Devotional Series. We have spent our last two weeks with daily reflections focused on the themes of brokenness (week one) and repentance (week two) and now we transition our thoughts this week to consider the active role of renewal in the lives of Christian disciples.

It seems fitting then, to me, that we begin our new theme with a passage of Scripture we have become familiar with over the past several weeks from our most recent teachings in our Sunday worship gatherings. In this passage, believers are encouraged to “not be conformed to the pattern of the world, but to be transformed by the renewal of their minds.” What exactly does the Apostle Paul mean when uses the words “renewal of your mind?”

Renewal ::: Greek (noun) Anakainosis – a renewal; (found in Romans 12:2, “the renewal of your mind”) i.e., the adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God, which is designed to have a transforming effect upon the life. Also, in Titus 3:5, where “the renewing of the Holy Spirit” is not a fresh bestowment of the Spirit, but a revival of His power, developing the Christian life; this passage stresses the continual operation of the indwelling Spirit of God; the Romans passage stresses the willing response on the part of the believer. (From Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words; McDonald Publishing Co.)

The word pictures and meanings given to us from the Vine’s Expository Dictionary provide us with a great jumping off point for this week’s devotional readings. Let us consider together these ideas associated with renewal as we prepare our hearts for examination and readiness to respond to God’s Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Renewal is:

• adjustment of the moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God
• designed to have a transforming effect upon the life of the believer
• a revival of God’s Holy Spirit power developing the Christian life
• the willing response on the part of the believer
• the continual operation of the indwelling Spirit of God

Do you consider your current and active life of discipleship in the terms as listed above? Are you being renewed daily in your heart, mind, soul and strength to the will and way of God? What areas of your life might the Spirit be revealing to you that are in need of renewal?

Our Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am prone to forget that my renewal is an ongoing process. My nature wants to think, “I’ve got it or I get it” and move on. I get tired and discouraged when I look at the real me and confess that renewal can be a scary proposition. But I know it is right and I know it is good, so I surrender myself to You and ask that You reveal the areas of my life that need renewal.  Help me, O Lord, to work through the process of being conformed into Your image through the renewal of me.