RENEW YOUR MIND

Often when I am doing a bible study, I hop on Bible Gateway on my laptop, and using the parallel option, I have about 2-3 bible translations open on the screen. Some people consider the many bible versions a call to question its authenticity. However others consider them a powerful complementary tool to provide a richer understanding of the text.

Some bible translations are considered "Word-for-Word" translations such as the King James, English Standard, and the New American Standard Bible versions.

Opening up these three for our particular verse of study, it's interesting to see that the phrase under discussion is translated as "reasonable service," "spiritual worship," and "spiritual service of worship," respectively.

For the term "reasonable", the Greek definition provides descriptions of rational, spiritual, pertaining to the mind and soul. We'll come back to that one later.

For "service," it's interesting that this is tied to worship, which at face value, could seem like two very different concepts.

Pastor John Thompson often states "without legitimate choice, authentic worship can not exist." His wife, Sister Andrea Thompson, often says "You gotta get your worship right," as a loving word of caution to a believer that may be going astray!

Both statements indicate that demonstrated worship requires one to make a choice for one thing over and above another.

Their son, Pastor William Thompson preached a series titled "Building the Framework", and the 2nd message in this series was titled "Choose Life!" In it he coined the phrase, "You cannot choose God and . . ."

You can tell that this family has been anointed to share the Word of God!

This clever phrasing from all three Thompsons however, is consistent with scripture as Matthew 6:24 states that "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

While the term "mammon" in this verse is referring to money, as the latter Pastor Thompson points out, you cannot simultaneously serve God and . . . anything that is not God. Whichever one chooses to serve in the moment, is an indication of what they prefer or prioritize in that moment. As such, what one prefers and prioritizes, is an indication of what they worship.

Now, let's go back to this business of reasonable being likened to words like rational, spiritual, pertaining to the mind and soul.

Putting the words "reasonable service," "spiritual worship," and all together "spiritual service of worship", sounds like a call to use spiritual rationalization to choose to serve God as an indication of our worship.

I'm reminded of an earlier part in Paul's letter to the Romans in chapter 7, starting at vs. 14, the New American Standard Bible titles it "The Conflict of Serving Two Masters."

A sympathizing smile always comes to my face when I read from vs. 14 down to the end of the chapter! Verse 19 is the kicker! "For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want." I totally get it Paul; I'm right there with you brother!

Thankfully, Paul does not stay in that place of conflict for very long and by vs. 25 he is singing a different tune.

But slowing down a bit, let's bring in The Amplified Classic Bible version for an even richer translation of vs. 22-23. Paul talks about one part of himself (his new nature in Christ) delighting in the Law of God. But there is this other part of himself (the will of his flesh with all its desires and appetites) that delights in . . . something that is not God; and this second part of himself is at war with his mind.

Outlining this choice, we have now come full circle!

This battle over the mind has been written about by many profound Christian authors, and is of great importance. Because the winner of this battle declares what is considered reasonable. It determines which choice you will ultimately make in demonstration of your worship. It's the battle of the mind that casts your individual vote as to whether all that Paul has written about thus far, is actually a reasonable service for you.

For additional sympathetic smiles, check out The Message version of Romans 7:14-25!

No matter what version you read however, the question posed in vs. 24 always leads to the same answer in vs. 25. We have a choice to make in our service of worship; and it is only God through Jesus Christ that makes the choice for Him possible and reasonable.