Mind of Christ

Reading: Deuteronomy 32-34; 1 Corinthians 2 14 But people who aren’t Christians can’t understand these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. 15 We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. 16 How could they? For, “Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?” But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT) Paul made it clear that he didn’t depend on his intellect, his education, his persuasiveness, or his public speaking skills to communicate the Good News and to teach spiritual truth. He depended instead on the thoughts of Jesus and the words given him by the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave him the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit gave him the words to say and to write. As Christ-followers, you and I also have God’s Spirit, given to us as a gift of God’s grace. We have access to the mind and thoughts of God as we read and meditate on the Bible’s teachings and stories, on the words and thoughts of Jesus, and on the realities of the world around us. As we face life’s challenges, as we make the decisions that shape our lives, as we speak and act as influencers for Christ, we must constantly choose to allow the Spirit to give us thoughts and words from the mind of Christ. Will you join me in this exercise of faith today? Before each decision or choice we make today, before we speak, before we act, let’s consciously take a moment and consult the mind of Christ. Let’s say, “Jesus, what do you think about this? Jesus, what do you have to say about this? Jesus, from your viewpoint, what’s my best choice here?” I’m not talking about being religious or weird, but about being aware and willing—that’s all! Prayer:

Father, Today I ask you to remind my friends and me all through the day to think thoughts from the mind of Christ and to speak words given us by your Spirit. And not just for today. I ask that we may become known as people who think God-thoughts and speak Spirit-words. May we think, speak, and act as Jesus in our world. Amen.