Have You Got a Double Mind?

The Scriptures warn us that we must not be “double minded.”   James 1:8……” a “double minded person is unstable in all his/her ways.”  James here is stressing a spiritual condition of having or wanting two things at the same time.  It is a state of inner contradiction….. of having two separate minds holding contradictory thoughts..

“You shall be whole hearted with the Lord your God.” (Deut. 18:13) In Hebrew the word “whole hearted” might translate to be perfect or blameless…….but actually a better translation would be made “complete”.  God doesn’t expect us to be perfect or never to make a mistake but rather to be “fully engaged.”  Our minds wander during the sermon; in our prayer time; or failing to be “fully engaged” in our devotion.   Could this be part of being double minded as well?

Likewise when Jesus (Yeshua) said “Be therefore perfect as your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:48), He meant that we should be complete, finished, and made whole by knowing and receiving the overflowing love and light of God.  He knew that being perfect could never be a quality of mankind….because all of us are sinners!!  So how can we even come close to being “perfect”?  I suggest that Lord wanted us to be fully aware of who God is and what He can do to and for us.  Having our lives centered on Him.  Not easy to do of course when we are all “doubled minded.”

Turning to our Father in times of doubt and failure will keep us focused on Him.  We are made whole or “perfect” by putting our complete faith in Him.  We can’t do this by ourselves. However by submitting to His will for our lives, repenting of our neglect of Him or others, we will be rewarded despite our double minds!

“Now may you know the love of the Messiah that surpasses knowledge so that you may be made whole and filled with all the fullness of God”  (Eph 3:19)