The Mind of Christ

In the message "Stand Our Ground" we began with a statement that our Christian walk involves a process of renewing our mind. Paul wrote to the Romans about this renewal as an on-going process of transformation (Romans 12:2). He also wrote about a renewed mind as something which has already occurred; "But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

The consistent message through all the New Testament is that through faith in Jesus we are given a new birth, with a new heart, a new Spirit, and a new mind. However, we are continually exhorted to live as a new creation, worship with a new heart, receive guidance and strength from a new Spirit, and make decisions and set priorities with a new mind. We must learn to walk according to the transformed life we have been granted!

Philippians 2:5
"Your attitude (or mind in the KJV) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

Many portions of Jesus' life were for the express purpose of giving us an example by which to live. With all the power of the Universe at His command, He humbled Himself and demonstrated the mind and attitude of a servant; "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28).

He demonstrated a mind of obedience and lived to honor His Father in ALL He did - even though being obedient might result in discomfort or pain...or even death: "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

As He obediently served, Jesus also demonstrated a mind void of all pride. With more abilities than we can possibly comprehend, Jesus still gave all the glory to His Father; "By Myself I can do nothing...for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent Me" (John 5:30). His entire life became an example of how we are to be an empty vessel through which God may work.

Moments before He died - after being beaten, whipped, spit upon and nailed to a cross - Jesus still demonstrated the mind of supreme love and forgiveness; "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

Though we know we have far to go, the mind of Christ becomes our example to follow. We must develop the mind of a humble servant, void of pride, who desires nothing more than for our Heavenly Father to work in and through our life. We must humbly submit and learn to forgive others as Christ first forgave us. Let's live as His Child. Let's continue to be transformed, and more fully develop the mind of Christ.

I've never responded before about a devotional, but this one hits home with me. It definitely hits the nail on the head. We're tempted even when we don't know we're being tempted. It can be that deceitful. I wanted to mention some other things that plague us in the form of temptations. They are so common in society and we are attacked so often by the temptation to spend where we don't need to spend and to worry and fear over unecessary things. Poor management of finances, and fear are common sins and I think they often fly under the radar and we don't realize that they are tempations to be overcome because of their prevalence in our nation through media and just general "rules" of society.