This way leads to changing your mind

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Bern Leckie answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

So, you think you know what you think about stuff? Are you sure? A walk with Jesus might be a bit of a challenge, then. Didn’t we see that in the gospels? And we aren’t just talking about “sinners” who everyone knows needs to change their lives. No, Jesus invited everyone, from the most religious to the least, to change their mind (“repent”) and believe.

What I love about today’s passage is that it shows two huge examples of this from people who had every right to think, in their own heads, that they didn’t need to change their minds.

Saul’s change of mind is famous and astonishing. He loved God so much that he went out of his way to pursue the enemies of rightness, even to death. But look at how Jesus himself intervenes! Saul, and many around him, thought he was so right, but what mattered was what God thought, and Saul needed a revelation to understand that. Amazingly, God knew how Saul’s life could be turned around with this, and shockingly the chief persecutor would become a leading proclaimer of the gospel throughout the world, beyond the Jewish people.

But I’m even more amazed by what happened next to Peter. Hadn’t he spent years with Jesus already? Shouldn’t he have known what’s what? Why did he need to change his mind at this point? If you’ve followed Peter’s progress through the gospels and Acts, you will have seen him learn a lot. He is someone I can relate to! He thinks he’s got it all sorted, then God shows him why Jesus’ call to “repent” was not a one-time thing, and not necessarily related to sin either. Peter hadn’t sinned here, but God had something to share which changed his mind.

This reminds me of why my mind changed about the purpose of this book. I used to think it was a blueprint for an ideal church, close to Christ. But what page is that? At what point in this mind-changing journey is God saying, “Here! Do exactly what they are doing, that’s it!” There are lots of great examples of things I would love to see and do, and it makes me want to put faith into practice. But I believe this book is here to show us that, just when we think we’ve got it all sorted, we should expect God to nudge and progress us along the way with Jesus, moving us closer to his kingdom, shifting our perspectives, changing our minds.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God can reveal things which change the views of unbelievers and believers too. He has a huge kingdom plan which none of us have fully grasped yet. Following Jesus is the best way to know it, but he leads us on lifelong journeys during which he keeps growing our understanding, showing us things which can change our minds, if we let him.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I need to reflect on what God is showing me, through prayer, scripture, life experience and processing with other Christians. Where does my mind need to change? Prompted by Mal’s weekend talk, I’m praying about how God can help me change how I process things which get me stressed or angry, for example. I’m also looking forward to considering God from fresh perspectives on “The Gold of the Gospel” course, starting tonight.

Who am I going to share this with?

People on the Gold course and others I’m following Jesus with.