MENTAL ASSENT

I mentioned "intellectual" or "head" faith in my blog two days ago. Often it's referred to as "Mental Assent." Mental Assent is one of Faith's greatest enemies and is dangerous.

Mental Assent agrees that the Word of God is true, but it enjoys no results. It doesn't act on the Word -- it just agrees with it mentally. It doesn't apply Biblical truths personally. It looks at circumstances rather than the Word of God.

Mental Assent is characterized by two little words: "but" and "if." We quote a Scripture then add, "but . . ." and list all the reasons that Scripture doesn't apply to us. Or we say, "If such and such would happen, THEN I'd believe." Those two little words can rob you of your faith.

Knowing what the Bible says on any given subject and acting on the Word, are two different things. Knowing is not enough -- we must ACT if we want to see results. In other words, we must not only get our thoughts but also our acts in line with what the Bible says. WE ARE THE DETERMINING FACTOR in receiving anything from God -- and that's a scary thought! We must make our actions and words as well as our thoughts agree with God's Word.

Three times in Scripture we're told that, "(T)he just shall live by faith." (Galatian 3:11, Romans 1:17, and Hebrews 10:38.) And Romans 10:17 explains how to get this faith, this positive assurance: "(F)aith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Yes, the Bible will get both your thoughts and your actions in line with Scripture. Meditating on God's Word will also help you make the cross-over from Mental Assent to heart-felt faith.

In this new year ask the Lord to make the Scrptures come alive to you. Then do more than simply assent to them with your mind -- act on them by applying them to your personal circumstances.

Preacher's Kid
P.S. Maybe when February rolls around, I'll quit "harping" on "this New Year."