There are three texts that help us consider how our heads, hearts and hands are shaped by the gospel: Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 6:21; James 1:22.
Gospel-Shaped Head
Romans 12:1-2 contrasts a mind shaped by the world from a mind renewed by God. A gospel-shaped mind considers the will of God. It is a surprisingly difficult exercise to constantly and intentionally consider what is God's will in every area of our lives. That's probably because we keep getting in the way of ourselves! Our will is more accessible to us than God's will. But as we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16), the gospel will shift our minds away from self-centredness to a God-centredness.
Gospel-Shaped Heart
What do you treasure? Jesus teaches his disciples, in Matthew 6:21, that our hearts will worship the thing we treasure most. Then, on the cross, he gives us a treasure worth treasuring (2 Corinthians 4:7) - God himself (1 Peter 3:18)! So what do you treasure Christian? Is it the world, or is it our God?
Gospel-Shaped Hand
Bruce Lee made famous the phrase, "Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do." There is something biblical about this that is made explicit in James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only..." If we have been healed, forgiven of our sins, how then shall we live? It is not enough to think theologically. We must do theology.
Head, Heart and Hand
