“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
– Paul (1 Corinthians 2:16)
Who among us would have considered accepting a false accusation against ourselves – a false accusation that leads us to be condemned and executed as a criminal? Who among us would have done so willingly – knowing full well that it was because of greed and envy that we would be killed? Who among us would have accepted this disgrace – solely for the purpose of helping and benefiting the greedy and envious?
In all honesty there would probably be no one among us. It just doesn’t seem right. It’s a wrong that needs corrected and an injustice that needs remedied. The greedy and envious should face the consequences of their actions.
But that’s the world’s way of thinking. That’s the reasoning of our flesh-oriented minds seeking assurance and stability. It’s not how Jesus thinks.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
– Acts 10:38
In the Psalms David wrote when prophesying of Jesus, “You love righteousness and hate wickedness”. That means more than just a judgment for righteous and against the wickedness of fallen angels and men. It means a refusal to practice wickedness in thought or action, and to maintain an unswerving dedication to the practice of righteousness. It means God is good and all His thoughts are for good. And Jesus of Nazareth had the mind of the Father, even as we now have the mind of Christ.
Consider the following scenario:
Someone you thought of as a friend – someone you trusted – borrowed a significant amount of money from you based on a reason you later found out was a lie. When you confronted them they laughed and made it clear you would not get repaid. What do you do? You could try to take the high road and forgive, but the financial strain you’ve shouldered is a constant reminder to nag at your thoughts and foster resentment and even bitterness. Perhaps you could tell someone – the pastor or mutual friends – in order to get the matter resolved … or at the very least, establish witnesses. Maybe just go ahead and sue because their actions were certainly not that of a true believer – then spend the next many months or years pursuing resolution.
That’s the reasoning of our flesh-oriented minds seeking assurance and stability. It’s not how Jesus thinks.
Our reasoning will center around the money or the lie or the lack of remorse. Probably all three. We want the injustice remedied. It’s ingrained in our worldly experience, and the reason why God instructs us that vengeance is His – that He will repay – and that we should focus on doing good. Our worldly experience does not easily or readily take into account the best interests of someone who hurts us. But God does.
Among our thoughts for remedy are also thoughts of sadness for our friend, and for the apparent loss of that friendship. Among our thoughts for just consequences there’s a hope our friend does not face a hard fall. Among our thoughts for getting back what was ours there is wondering what could compel our friend to behave that way. That is the mind of Christ. And that is the mind we can often dismiss because it seems almost foolish compared to our own reasoning.
Our worldly experience does not easily or readily take into account the best interests of someone who hurts us. But God does.
Our relationship with our Lord and our Father is that of a single spirit. Our spirit united with the Holy Spirit in what is now one new spirit within us. That spirit is what motivates us and inspires us. It enlightens our understanding and sparks our memory. It compels us to response and to action. It is filled with the character and person of Jesus and inspires us to hear and consider the thoughts of our Lord in any and every moment. It is thoughts always for good.
But those thoughts, along with our own, pass through our own experiences and reasoning where we filter them according to what seems the most proper. Often the thoughts of our Lord give way to our own – and would continue that way except the Lord does not abandon us. He faithfully continues sharing His thoughts within ours, and we have the choice to seek what is good in those thoughts – not what is best according to our reasoning – but what is good. Period. And we have the choice to practice by faith those thoughts of good in order to develop new experience for our reasoning. God will never let us down! He wants us to know His voice and His ways, and to recognize His thoughts within us.
Practice what is good because good comes from the Father. And because we are one spirit with the Father, His thoughts occur within us just as our own do.
“But what about all the bad thoughts that occur within me?“, you might ask. Those thoughts are inspired by the devil – and they do not have their source within you. When you walk into a dark room and turn on the light switch, where does the darkness go? It’s gone – only light remains. The same with being one spirit with the Father. It is light within you so the darkness can only operate on the outside – and only with lies. The intention of the devil is for you to reason with some of the information he provides. Seek only the good in your thoughts and discard what isn’t.
We have the choice to seek what is good in our thoughts – not what is best according to our reasoning – but what is good. Period.
Take time to let this take root. The thoughts that stir up within your mind each day – that’s a process you recognize and are familiar with. Christ’s thoughts are among those! What you have is the option to weigh all your thoughts and decide which ones have merit. Start practicing the good ones. The friend that steals from you – among the thoughts of hurt and restitution there may be a thought of kindness and charity that says go and give them $500 more. What?!!! That may seem ludicrous to our experience – but practice the good. God will never disappoint faith.
And if you choose your own instead of the good, don’t be discouraged. God remains faithful. Christ will continue thinking his thoughts in our minds and providing us opportunity to respond to Him. Keep trying! Don’t give up.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
– Paul (Philippians 4:8)
Rejoice! You have the mind of Christ! 🙂
