How do we become mature? We read the Bible and seek Christ to show us our blind spots and change our minds about the things that were taught to us that were not Biblical.
All of us were taught things that did not please God, even if they were well-meaning. It is human nature to add to God's Word our own interpretations unless we are asking Christ to open our eyes to everything that needs changing in our way of thinking.
It is human nature to interpret things according to the culture in which we live every day. It is easier, and we can keep our friends without losing anything.
When God changes our thinking, we will lose most people in our sphere of influence. Very few people want to know the truth that comes from God; they would rather maintain what is comfortable and familiar and more pleasurable.
Our way of thinking determines our attitudes and actions. Those who have wrong thinking will act disobediently, those who think with the mind of Christ will act righteously and be dedicated to what God shows them. This angers many people; we know this by what they did to the apostles and to Jesus Christ Himself. They murdered them and felt justified in doing so as they determined in their minds that those who followed Christ were troublemakers and blasphemers.
Romans 12:2 "2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Those who think like the world are inwardly angry with those who follow Christ; even if we do not see it on the outside, it will emerge when we bring them the gospel.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it."
We are "living epistles", the mere practice of living for Christ will irritate the demons of those who do not know Him. They will show us who they are by their responses to us. Those who love Christ will love us, and those who hate Christ will hate us.
John 13:35 "35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved."
We do not see in our country children putting parents to death, but we do see the angst and hatred that demonstrates they would if they could. Family members are hell bent on drama for no good reason, believing they have one, they deceive themselves into justification for their hatred.
This is the mentality of the end times, when the culture as a whole claims to have religion but has denied Christ in their attitudes that lead to lifestyle.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 Godlessness in the Last Days
"1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."
We must keep our minds focused on Christ so that we do not become like those around us. It is easier to fall into what we see all the time than do the hard work of prayer and dedication to Christ to avoid becoming like the world.
1 Corinthians 10:11-13 "11Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12 So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it. "12 Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall."
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