DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: JULY 19 CHRISTIANS AND OPEN MIND (1) SCRIPTURE: ACTS 17: 11
One of the causes of misunderstanding one another in any society is failure to accept someone views, opinions, ideas, philosophy and so on. When it comes to communication of any kind, people listen, comprehend, accept and agree to what is being communicated differently. People listen or view things presented to them either subjectively or objectively. This means some make up their mind judgmentally ahead and refuse to accept another person’s ideas. Others listen and fight out doubts, unbelief from the mind to get full knowledge of what is communicated. Our devotional today choses to discuss a topic tagged “An Open Mind.” The devotional of May 11 talked about “Sound Mind” when discussing self-organized life. An open mind is different from a sound mind. Sound mind talks of healthy or wholesome mind. An open mind, according to Cambridge Dictionary Definition talks of ability “to wait until you know all the facts before forming an opinion or making a judgment. It also means “An ability to not dismiss an idea with sneering contempt, simply because it does not fit within your preconceived notions.”
Open minded people have views but know that their views do not have to be held by everyone. Open minded people also know that their views can be wrong. It is important to know that there are people with “closed minds.” These are people doing the opposite of open minded people. According to one Kendra Cherry, “Open-mindedness involves being receptive to a wide variety of ideas, arguments, and information.” The devotional feels this discussion is important to Christians. Inability to be opened minded has limited accepting the Gospel of Christ in many ways because many listen to the gospel subjectively. Even among the Christians, many doctrines are rejected as well as views of preachers are never unanimously accepted.
What is important to note here is, open minded is not accepting everything given you, and such action is stupidity. It involves good listening, get what is being heard with good mind and heart, then take a final decision. Open mind is said to be a virtue. Our lead text today talked about the Berean people whom Apostle Paul considered being “more noble” than the people in Thessalonica because they received the gospel with all eagerness. This means they opened their minds to hear the gospel. Thereafter, they would go home to examine the scriptures if what is said was perfect for them. Refusal to be opened minded is not only a bane to being a good Christian but a great blockage against good relationship amongst human beings. We as Christians should develop our mind to be open to ideas, opinions, new teaching and so on.
PRAYER:
FATHER LORD, I earnestly desire your grace gives me open mind that will enable me learn a lot from the world around me in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
