Manna and Coffee

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians, 10:5, NIV

Have you stopped to thank God today for your blood brain barrier (BBB)?  The BBB is composed of very special astrocyte-supported blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrient-containing blood to our magnificent, but fragile brains.  Homeostasis (stability) in the brain is critical, as wild fluctuations in ion concentrations or the introduction of toxic chemicals to neurons can have lethal effects.  Our brain capillaries are unique in that they are paved with endothelial cells that are joined together with electrical resistant tight junctions that form a very tight “wall” to keep out stray molecules, radioactive ions, and disease-causing bacteria and viruses.  God has equipped the BBB with a complex series of very selective transporter proteins and ion channels.  These transporter proteins and ion channels act as gatekeepers that recognize and facilitate the passage of essential ions, amino acids, glucose and other molecules from the plasma to the brain compartment.  Small lipid soluble molecules like ethanol and caffeine are able to penetrate this defense system by traversing the lipid membranes of the endothelial cells, so be careful with consumption of these molecules.

As I was thinking about these amazing facts, it occurred to me that the Bible and the Holy Spirit can act as a “spiritual BBB” to help Christians process evil thoughts as they pass from the heart to the brain.  Jesus said, “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:18-19, NIV)  So how penetrable is our “spiritual BBB” right now?  Are we converting the evil thoughts that are passing through our neurons into unholy actions?  Do we even know the thoughts of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures?

The Bible says that when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside of us to help us understand the Bible and God’s will for our lives.  The Scriptures say, “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?  In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’  But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16, NIV)

Would the people around us say that we have the mind of Christ? If you have never known the mind of Christ you can know God’s Holy thoughts today.  The Lord is waiting for you to acknowledge your sin to Him and to invite Jesus into your heart.  Once we do this, the Bible promises that the precious blood of Christ will cover our sins and the Holy Spirit will take up residence in ours lives.  We can chose to have the mind of Christ today.  Are we willing?