The Mindset of the Just

The word “disobedient” here, from the original Greek rendering, means one who can’t be persuaded, one who’s headstrong and doesn’t want to go in the right direction. He or she deliberately chooses to do wrong. There’re such people today; they’re unyielding; even when they know the truth, they choose to do otherwise. They’re unwilling to submit to the Word of God, which is the wisdom of God.

On the other hand, “the wisdom of the just” refers to the mindset of the righteous. It’s a mind that’s yielded and given to the Word—easily persuaded by the Word to act in conformity to the Word. Such a person is willing to accept the Word and to make adjustments on the basis of the Word. It’s functioning in true wisdom, which is living in and by God’s Word, being influenced and propelled by the Word to the right thoughts and actions.

1 Peter 4:17 says, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” The underlined portion of the preceding verse is the verb of the noun we read in Luke 1:17: “do not obey.” The Greek word is “apeitheo,” meaning the disobedient; one who’s willfully disobedient and unbelieving; the foolish. The Bible says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God...”” (Psalm 14:1 NIV).

Being born again, you have a different mindset: the mindset of the just. Therefore, be swayed and easily moved by the Word of God; take your actions on the basis of the Word. It doesn’t matter how something appears or whether you find it appealing to the senses or your emotions; if the Word of God says otherwise, you ought to always conform to and agree with the Word. Discipline yourself to accept and live by the Word of God only.