THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017
“He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?” (John 20:3)
“He saw through their duplicity and said to them, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?’” (John 20:23,24)
In today’s passage, we find several examples of Jesus’s mastery with the question. As Creator, He invented questions, so the mastery comes with the territory. Nonetheless, His insightful questions cut to the heart of the matter with the Pharisees and forced them into recognizing the shortcomings of their thoughts. Jesus forced a decisiveness of mind as to His divine origin.
Questions have tremendous value in our lives. First, however, we must become comfortable with discomfort, realizing that all questions do not have immediate answers. Their premise does propel us towards growth and a deeper knowledge of God, the Source of all wisdom and insight. We may trust Him through our uncertainty and find Him wholly faithful.
This week, I have had the pleasure of reading some research on the value of a “growth mindset.” This mindset contrasts with a fixed mindset, in which we believe in stagnant realities. Dr. Carol Dweck explains that the fixed mindset does not allow room for growth – and, if we consider a spiritual dimension, grace. Instead, people with fixed mindset have little interest in new challenges because they may expose weakness or lead to failure. On the contrary, the growth mindset ties closely with learning, as setbacks become teaching opportunities. This reading has emphasized to me that we would all do well to take on the “growth mindset.”
A growth mindset lies at the heart of the Gospel and all ministry. The fixed mindset would leave us pretty hopeless because we couldn’t really believe in lasting transformation. Yet, in Christ’s sacrifice, we have a well of forgiveness that opens the door to becoming more like Him. The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the believer’s heart and brings a renewing of the mind. We also receive a new heart of flesh, casting off the old heart of stone. Paul explains in Romans 6 that we have become (willing) slaves to righteousness whereas before we had lived as slaves to sin. Paul also writes in Philippians 1:21 that “to live is Christ” and in Galatians 2:20 that he had become crucified with Christ and that Christ now lived out His life through Paul. We have received the same opening for transformation and will do well to trust God for its fruition (Philippians 1:6).
What questions may we ask ourselves to support this growth mindset in our minds and in others? I offer a few that have been helpful to me:
- For personal growth
- What would you have me to learn from this situation, Lord?
- What vision of my growth do you have in mind, God?
- How may I become more like Christ this week?
- How may I trust God more completely in this area of my life?
- What would you have me to learn from this situation, Lord?
- For encouraging others’ growth
- Who is Jesus Christ to you?
- How may I pray for you?
- In what ways would you like to grow? How may I support you?
- Who is Jesus Christ to you?
May we know the Author of the question better through asking better questions.
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your patience with us. Thank You for drawing us to Yourself through Your great sacrifice of love. Thank You that we may know You better, even through and perhaps because of life’s struggles. Give us a mindset of hope and growth, that we may see real transformation in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Make Stamford and the surrounding communities into a great area of growth. Develop our characters and mold us more into Your image. We love You and give our lives to You today. In Your Name, amen.
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