THE MIND OF CHRIST

Having the nature and mind of Christ involves not only how we respond to life but how we approach life, the character, virtues, values and attitudes we project into life, and the mindset we maintain. Let’s deconstruct this:

Character is the mental qualities, personality, nature, disposition, and temperament we possess. The Character of Christ: Godly wisdom, humility, a resolute peaceful temperament, and a sacrificial disposition, all flowing with and through the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.

Virtues are the moral standards we espouse. The Virtues of Christ: Holiness, found in complete submission to God, and unwavering obedience to God.

Values are our judgments of what is truly important in life. The Values of Christ:  A singular passionate focus on His Father’s will, hearts aligned, saying and doing only what He hears and sees from the Father.  Jesus was, and is, a person of “One Thing”, totally controlled by the Holy Spirit of God.

Attitudes are ways of thinking reflected in a person’s behavior. The Attitudes of Christ: A settled way of thinking that is totally dependent on the Father, trusting Father-God completely, reflecting godliness with contentment, with a mind-set frozen on “things above.”  

It is God’s goal, and therefore our determined purpose, that we become Christlike, possessing fully His character, having the highest of moral standards, embracing Kingdom values. With the character of Christ and His highest of moral values we can select what is truly important in life, living life in the center of God’s heart. Our attitudes become a settled way of thinking, reflecting godliness and contentment wherein we bask in the joy of the Lord.

Saints, the Fruit of the Spirit should be hanging all over us: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. Our mindset: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Why you ask? “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” We can’t get very far without realizing the importance of death of Self – Self rule – and submission to the Lordship of Jesus. Rejection of the world and all its Fools Gold is the price we pay for the mind of Christ:  “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” It is the Holy Spirit’s job to renew – make new again – our mind by infusing us with the mind of Christ. “But we have the mind of Christ”: Saints, we have accessible to us the mind of Christ – the mind of God – which we apprehend through faith and obedience. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus … Arm yourselves also with the same mind.” Yes, Let It Be…

ARM YOURSELVES 
WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST

(Col. 3:2-3; Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 12:1-2 Phil. 2:5; 1Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5; 1 Peter 4:1)