WISDOM FOR MENTAL EXCELLENCE

“And JESUS INCREASED in WISDOM and stature, and in favor with God and men” – Luke 2:52

GOD is the Original Source of WISDOM for MENTAL EXCELLENCE: “And JESUS INCREASED in WISDOM and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk.2:52). JESUS is our Model in Total human development. He increased in wisdom – intellectually or mentally; in stature – physical and emotional growth; in favour with God – spiritual maturity; and in favour with men – interpersonal development. Luke wrote: “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him…“they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers” (vv.40, 46b-47).

Believers in Christ must grow up on all fronts! Man is a spirit, with a soul, packaged in a body (1The.5:24). The soul is the seat of self, comprising: the Mind – Thinking or Reasoning faculty; Emotions; and Will – Decision-making. The mind is the seat of Wisdom. It acts as the pivot around which our entire existence revolves. Our consistent thoughts define our lives and direct our destinies: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Pro.23:7a). A fruitful and fulfilled life results from correct thinking. The state of our lives is determined by the state of our mind.

The Mind is Man’s Intelligence faculty. By creation, God endowed us with a mind that carries stupendous potential. Adam had the mental capacity to name an array of animals (Gen.2:20). By re-creation, the redeemed have “the mind of Christ” (1Cor.2:16b). Paul reminded Timothy his son in the faith: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a SOUND MIND” (2Tim.1:7). Soundness of mind should be the portion of every true Believer. We are people of great value: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…” (1Pet.2:9a). The manifestation of our worth is however a function of the use to which we put our mind (Rom.12:2).

Man is a spirit, but the mind is the factor that makes us relevant to our world. When the mind is out of place, one’s place in life is lost. Praise God! Redemption gives us an advantage on the issue of the mind: “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom.8:6). The carnal mind is a reprobate mind (Rom.1:28). But the spiritual mind can be renewed: “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Eph.4:23). At redemption, new life is infused into the Believer’s mind, making him supernaturally smarter than his peers (Rom.8:11). Our natural mind was exchanged for the Mind of Christ.

Four major functions of the mind that Believers must develop and be productively engaged in are: Learning (by Knowledge), Understanding, Reasoning, and Imagination. Jesus says, “Learn from me…” (Mt.11:29a). Learners become leaders. Those who stop learning start dying. We exercise our senses through learning. People start ageing from the mind more than the body. Life-long learners must be current and open to learning. The largest room in the world is the room for improvement. Paul was a man of “the books” (2Tim.4:13). Learning culminates in knowledge, which is vital to life (Hos.4:6).

Through meditation, understanding unravels knowledge: “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psa.119:99). Understanding makes us outstanding in life’s quest. Daniel, the most excellent and wisest in his time “understood by the books” (Dan.6:3; 9:2). God also calls us to reason: “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isa.1:18a). Reason guarantees a rising. Every tower builder is a tower thinker (Lk.14:28). God shares His thoughts with us, but He won’t think for us. It’s our responsibility! The fourth function, Imagination sets the pace for our destination (Gen.11:6; 13: 14-15). Zig Ziglar said, “The most powerful nation in the world isn’t America…but ImagiNATION!

God’s expectation is that we accomplish our life’s dreams and phenomenal exploits by proper development and maximised use of our mind. May we never disappoint His expectation, in Jesus name!