Colossians 1:21-23 "Evil of the Mind"

Read Colossians 1:21-23.

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." NIV

I'm fascinated by the phrase, "enemies in your minds." What exactly does that mean? Sin separated us from God. That's the alienation part. But what about the second part? We were enemies "in our minds" because of our evil behavior.

What does evil behavior do to our minds? Or more clearly, what do our minds do to cause us to have evil behavior? Why does a child choose to lie? Why will a teenager rebel? What happens in the mind to promote adultery?

All sin is essentially acts of selfishness. Therefore, we think of ourselves in an autonomous manner. Or better said, as our own god. The highest authority, in our minds, that we should have to answer to is our self. So if what I want to do pleases me, then in my mind, it is acceptable behavior because, as my own god, I determine what is right and what is wrong.

Now we have a huge spectrum for people to fall on. Some sin on what would be considered a "small basis." Maybe they tell a few lies or cheat a little on their taxes. Then we have the extreme of a psychopath murdering rampantly. I suppose then, the difference between the two is just how much the enemy was able to infiltrate each of their minds. The one opened a few doors while the other gave the enemy carte blanche to every area of their psyche.

So it boils down to guarding our minds from the enemy and his temptations to sin, his schemes of selfishness, and the perceived pleasures that we could experience. If we open our minds to him, we are not our own god; he is our god.

But out of God's amazing love, He gave us a way out of the abyss. Darkness does not have to win, and no matter how deep we have allowed our mind to travel into it, the light can penetrate. We can choose to turn away from the lies and allow the Father to restore our broken relationship. What grace.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you consciously protect your mind from the temptations and infiltration of the enemy? If not, why?
2. How do we protect our mind? (Support with Scripture and practical steps.)
3. Is anyone beyond the capability of evil behavior?
4. How do we make sure we don't fall into that trap?
5. How has your mind been reconciled to God?

Joseph: Genesis 37:5-36 "Black Hearts"

Read Genesis 37:5-36.

"his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to, the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt." NIV

This is a very hard passage to read and glean from. First we have a 17-year-old young man who is blessed by God with visions but not very discerning in who to tell them to. He further alienates himself from his brothers by telling them of the dream that shows they will be subject to him -- twice! Joseph was obviously naive and had a lot of growing up to do in dealing with people.

Then you have the brothers -- all but Reuben -- who want to do bodily harm to Joseph. They consider murder, abandonment, and settle on selling him into slavery. Brothers with that much hatred in their hearts changed Joseph's life forever. The evil that is so prevalent in these young men's hearts must be completely displayed now to contrast with the fact that later, we will see them become the heads of the twelve tribes of Judah. I suppose to truly understand the amazing transformation that God can do in people's hearts, we must be exposed to the black ugliness of sin. And their hearts couldn't have been any uglier.

There are no hopeless causes, no sin that is beyond God's forgiving. His grace is deep; His mercy reaches wide. We can be assured of His love and forgiveness of our sins when we see such transformations occur. But what about Joseph? God hasn't abandoned him as we will see. He's just preparing Joseph's character for a position that only he can fill to complete God's plans.

Further Thoughts:

1. What constitutes evil?
   
2. Why is there evil in the world? Support with Scripture.
   
3. How are men/women able to do evil acts? Why does God allow it? Support with Scripture.
   
4. How are we as believers to respond to the evil around us?