Scripture references: Romans 12:16

It never ceases to amaze me how the Word of God relates to itself over and over. I love
to see the intricate patterns the Scriptures have interwoven between the chapters and
verses. It is beautiful.

Here again, we see how important it is to God for us to esteem each other better than
ourselves and to be of the same mind and to be humble!

"Be of the same mind" = "to exercise the mind, i.e. entertain or have a sentiment
or opinion; by implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain
direction); intensively, to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)." [Power Bible CD]

What are we to be of the same mind about? We are to be the same mind toward one another
and not lofty persons, places or things. One another, all of us, not just one another, a part of
select groups. Recall that it is written in James 2:1:

      My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus
     Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

James 2:9a

      But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin...

We are to exercise our minds to think in the same direction, to be
likeminded with Christ, to interest ourselves with each other and
the things of God, with out hypocrasy, without arrogance and conceit.

We will never be so righteous, successful or pure that we become "better" than someone else
who hasn't grown up as much. No one else will ever be so pure and righteous, or will be so
successful, as to be "better" than us either, regardless of their status, position or livelihood.
Similarly, no one will ever be so "low" or "unworthy" of God's grace, mercy, acceptance and love.

Think how Jesus conducted himself. He was the friend of publicans and sinners. He loved the
sinner. (He did not love the sin.) He did not hang out with rich, successful people exclusively.
He did not regard man. He did not think the rich or the religious were better than those
who needed deliverance. He loved without being a respecter of persons. He was meek and
lowly of heart.

In the past, I have had trouble living this principle. I used to live in a small town
full of business professionals and wealth. But I was rebellious. I hung out with troubled
youth, the partiers and the potential future criminals! (Boy was I distracted!) I left town
and carved a life many miles away. We wanted to start over again and ditch our old way of
life. We were very poor. We lived in our car for six weeks! But God blessed us as we worked and saved.

We moved into an apartment, and eventually, we bought a mobile home. When the trailer
park became a very bad place, we moved the home out onto a parcel of land into the country.
Years later, we sold that and bought a house in town. I began to hang out with "on the grow,
" business oriented and very successful people, exclusively. I desired what they had. I had
so closely meshed my mind with the direction of the things of this world, that the Word got
crowded out. Then, whenever I talked to someone "of low estate" I felt really uncomfortable.
It made me cringe inside. I wanted nothing to do with them. I became a snob!

Have I overcome that? Well, I'd like to think so. There is a man who
dresses like a punk rocker, complete with the hair and all the metal
spikes, who walks his dog past my house everyday. I have been saying
hi to him and he is really warming up to it. I ask how he is
doing and he has such a kind smile and conversation in response. Also,
one of Alicia's friends looks like a punk rocker too. But I was
surprised when he came over last year,to discover that he is one of the
most polite and well-mannered young men I have ever met!

Indeed, the old clique is TRUE, you can't judge a book by it's cover.

May we be of the same mind one to another, being humble, without being a respecter of persons. Amen.

-Carol Kenreigh