There is a certain, yet not-so-obvious connection between renewing the mind, deepening in our knowing and experience in the Love of God and ministry. Though indirectly, most Christians who are very familiar with the passages we covered this morning would be passively aware of the connection, it would greatly surprise me if it is something they have really pieced together in a way which flows logically from one thing to the other.

Our two New Testament writers we read from this morning are Peter and Paul. Two very different men in terms of temperament and ministry, but both very much in step and agreement due to their being led by the Spirit’s influence in their teachings and letters.

Paul stresses the need for the renewing of the mind and setting our thoughts on spiritual things rather than being preoccupied with the affairs of this life. Peter encourages us to prepare our lives for the inevitable spiritual battles we have by assuming the same way of thinking as Jesus did in His earthly life. That such would lead us to victory over the flesh in regard to sin.

Then Peter presses the need for loving our fellow Christian with fervor and devotion, something Paul also stresses in regard to overcoming the flesh. Then they both – Peter in 1 Peter 4 and Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14 – stress the need to be good stewards of the grace gifts God has given each one of us as expressions of the aforementioned brotherly love.

It is almost as if both letters were written in collaboration with each other or one was strongly influenced by the other due to the development and flow of the thoughts expressed in them.

In any case, this is the direction our lessons went this morning. Again, not an obvious development line upon line, but I think as you listen you will discover a pattern witnessed elsewhere in scripture which outlines similar movement from one thing to the next.