“Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:5
When we’re focused on Christ and remember our Heavenly citizenship (Heb. 11:13; 12:2; Phil. 3:20, our views and values will reflect His, not the world’s.
Mind-control.
The mere mention of the word brings to mind pictures of mad scientists transforming normal people into zombies, where they walk around with seemingly sightless eyes, muttering in a monotone, “Yes, master.” They have no will of their own, but have been programmed to do their master’s bidding.
Such is not the intent of today’s Manna, for “denying and dying to ourselves” (Lk. 9:23; Gal. 2:20) isn’t a forfeiting of our identity; it’s a surrendering of it to Christ’s.
Likewise, having “the mind of Christ” doesn’t mean we cease reading the newspaper, reading books, watching television, etc.; however, it does mean we’ll remember and heed the children’s song, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, Oh be careful little eyes what you see, For the Father up above is looking down in love, Oh be careful little eyes what you see.”
Yes, having “the mind of Christ” is a mindset—a mental disposition, if you will. It’s a consecrated attitude that expresses itself in Christlike actions. In reality, it’s remembering the phrase first coined in the 1896 novel by Charles Sheldon, called In His Steps, where the pastor and several members of a congregation spent a year asking themselves “What would Jesus do?” in every decision. And, by the end of that year there were some dramatic changes in their lives—all to the Glory of Christ.
Dear Pilgrim, is yours “the mind of Christ”?
Before you make a major decision, do you, like Nehemiah, “pray to the God of Heaven” (Neh. 2:4)? When you’re confronted with problems. . .both externally and internally. . .do you, like Nehemiah, look to the Lord and remind yourself (and others) that the Heavenly Father knows what you’re going through and will supply your needs (Neh. 1:11; 4:4-5, 9; 6:9, 14; Phil. 4:19)?
Having “the mind of Christ” requires “hiding God’s Word in our hearts” (Ps. 119:11). It requires “the renewing of our mind” through daily Bible study and prayer (Rom. 12:2). It’s requires our “casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the things of God and bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:5).
But, above all, it requires a surrendering of our will to His. When His Life and Love are free to flow unhindered through us, we can rest assured that we are “a vessel fit for the Master’s use” (II Tim. 2:21). And, again, it’s only by “meditating upon His Word day and night that we become like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in its season” and are able to “rightly divide the Word of Truth” (Ps. 1:2-3; II Tim. 2:15).
May the Holy Spirit help us today to have a “hungering and thirsting” for the Mind of Christ. It won’t be a matter of mind-control; it’ll be a matter of Christ-control. And, how sweet it is to know others will recognize the difference and inwardly yearn to know our “secret.”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated December 31, 2010
Trackbacks/Pingbacks