By it we convey the ideas of others to ourselves so as to make them properly our own, and discover new beauties and attractions in the truth. By it we digest the truth and turn it, as it were, into a part of our beings. Meditation is to the mind what digestion is to the body. By it we appropriate to ourselves the ideas and truths that the mind has looked at, and penetrate deeper into the knowledge of the truth. Meditation is “close or continued thought the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind serious contemplation.” - Webster. Oh how many trials we might save ourselves from by being more reflective! We should reflect upon it through the week. It is not sufficient to listen to and look at the truth from Sabbath to Sabbath. But those who do not take pains to come back on what they have heard and seen, are liable to let the truth slip out of their minds, and generally fail to come up to their duty. They will also be more apt to take heed to the things which they have heard. Those who reflect on the truths they have heard or read, will be more apt to retain them. It is of the utmost importance that this faculty be sanctified. Reflection is the faculty of the mind by which it comes back on ideas which had attracted the attention, to acquire an exact knowledge of the same. But to attention we must add,Īttention sees the object but reflection comes back upon it to examine it with care, so as to preserve distinct ideas about it. But as we try to do this, we must ask the Father of lights to open and anoint our eyes that we may behold wondrous things out of His law. No one will fail to see the necessity of setting apart this faculty to see the truth. But how often it happens that the attention is diverted from important truths by trifling objects, or by thoughts thrown in by the enemy or by professed friends. And first let us noticeĪttention is that faculty of the mind by which we look at ideas. And if the mind is sanctified, if the thoughts are holy, the works and the actions, the whole life will be holy.īut the mind has faculties and operations which should be sanctified, and some of which we will here examine. If the fountain is pure the stream that flows from it will also be pure. The mind is the spring of action, the fountain from whence all the words and actions flow. It transfers the mind from carnal to spiritual things, from sin to holiness. Sanctification cleanses the mind from sinful thoughts. He says, “My son, give Me thine heart.” “How long shall vain thoughts lodge within thee?” “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. But God looks on the heart or mind, and understands the thoughts of man afar off. It dwells and feasts upon carnal thoughts, and is not subject to the law of God. The carnal mind is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.Sanctification begins with the mind. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool."Įphesians 2:8-10 "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves it is God's gift” not from works, so that no one can boast. Isaiah 1:18 "Come, let us discuss this," says the LORD. Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek Me and you will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Pay attention and come to Me listen, so that you will live." Isaiah 55:1-3 "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why do you spend money on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods. We assume God sees us as useless But, He produces fruit in us (v.10-11) We assume that God is always angry with us But, He offers pardon (v.7) We assume that God is hard to find But, He is near (v.6) Sermon In A Sentence:God's thoughts and ways toward us are profoundly different from the thoughts and ways we assume He has toward us. Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My way's, My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
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