Mental assent, sounds rather lofty, right? Perhaps a higher state of mind. Maybe a way of taking the “high road”. Something to aspire to, and stretch to achieve. Words have always been very important to me. Words represent our thoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings, and lead to actions (or in some cases inaction). Contrary to how it may sound mental assent can lead to inaction.

At a Glance

A wife may ask her husband to empty the kitchen trashcan just before the football game preshow airs, on their big-screen, HD television. He may say he will handle it right away, only to forget, and remember at the halftime break. Perhaps he understood his wife’s needs and yet chose to do something else because his heart was not in the activity at that time.

A husband may inform his wife that they will need to hold off on any purchases for a couple of weeks, because of unexpected car repairs that will impact their cash flow until next payday. The wife may respond in the affirmative, yet she goes ahead with her plan to explore the Buy One Get One Free sale at her favorite shoe store. It appears the heart of this wife was not involved in the effort to save money.

While both couples are in relationships, the quality of said relationships is likely diminished by their lack of common focus. The events mentioned in isolation are not necessarily deal breakers that would cause the relationships to end. Should perspectives consistently be void of common focus, and simply represent mental assent, those relationships will suffer.

Mental assent is an acquiescence, or an acceptance with the absence of heartfelt commitment. It is a way of going along with something that you do not necessarily embrace as illustrated by your actions, or inactions.

Is mental assent enough for God?

Our most important relationship is the one we have with our Creator. We are the ones responsible for managing that relationship. God wants more than a ritualistic exchange with us. Understanding that He is God is not enough for Him. He actually requires something of us.

Do you have a relationship with God? Do you interact with Him in a way that displays that you are following what He has commanded you to do? Do you know that you know, what God requires of you? Do you relate to God through the vehicle of mental assent, or is He in your heart? Is either acceptable to God? How do you know?

Priority

When Jesus the Christ walked this earth as God’s Only Begotten Son, He was asked many questions. Sometimes questions were authentic desires for understanding. He was asked such an authentic question by one known as a Scribe (an individual whose life’s work was to memorize, and copy Biblical law). The question, and more importantly the answer, provided by the Messiah is a guide for all seeking to please Almighty God.

As recorded in Mark 12:28-31 this was the exchange:

²⁸ And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

²⁹ And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

³¹ And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (King James Version)

When given the opportunity to share with those gathered around Him, Jesus was direct, and to the point. The Scribes already had a cerebral knowledge and acceptance of God. They prided themselves in knowing the law and being able to precisely copy it word by word. In a time when a simple slip of their writing instrument could give an entirely different meaning than that intended in the original hand-copied text.

Plainly, priority one love God; fully, with heart, soul, mind and strength. Priority two self and neighbor.

What are your priorities? How do your actions or inactions display your priority?

Are you limiting your relationship with God to mental assent only, or do you have the required relationship reflecting God fixed in your heart?

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”