We Have the Mind of Christ - 1 Corinthians 2:16

 

    It takes an enormous amount of faith to become like Jesus and think the way He thinks. Believing that this is possible is spiritually one of the deepest quest of many Christians. Impossible? What is impossible for man is possible for God. How can we be Christ like if we don't have His mind? Many churches and web sites can list characteristics of Christ's mind but doesn't teach how to gain His Mind.

    The mind of Christ is first peaceful, set on God's interests and not your own. It's a  mind filled with love for God and man, having understanding and granting eternal life. Living in us, Christ's mind produces good works that were planned for us before the beginning of the world. The love of God is poured in our hearts and of course originates from God's pure motives. Our selfish deadly nature has no room to exert it's feeble power in our lives. We just have to give up and surrender to God"s will.

    The mind of Christ  knows and understands the Bible and the deep things of God. Christ's mind is God's indwelling Holy Spirit which is like the sap of a tree. God is the gardener who waters the roots with His Spirit. The trunk is Christ who passes God's Spirit into the branches. We are the branches. The leaves are the good works we do. These works are in God's plan not ours. We are just a empty cup that is filled with God's presence, or a temple set apart for God's work. In this way, God and Christ are in us and we in them. In this way we grow to experience truth, understanding, love, power, and everlasting life. In the process of becoming like Christ, God has to give us a new identity. We are born of God, a son of God, and a friend and brother to Christ.

     We attain our new nature through a changed identity. As scripture says, "we are who we
   think  we are."


                                                Identity In Christ


    When we were toddlers we learned who we were by what our parent(s) told us. We are a boy or girl, good or bad, smart or dumb. By hearing this, we grew and developed these traits. They were fulfilled in us. We are what we think we are. Why would our parents or others in our world lie to us? They couldn't help it because they didn't know who they were in Christ, having loving traits. We were told over and over again who and what we are. In the study of human learning this method is shown to be true. It  proves that verbal repetition is the best and fastest way to learn. God now develops our new identity when we believe what our Father tells us we are, having His own son's mind. God wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us. What an amazing thought. Faith starts this process. We are transformed by the complete renewing of our minds. Our old identity is put off and a new one is put on. Pray for God to renew your mind and to get rid of your own life. The scripture explains this in:

                                             Ephesians 4:21-24

         " If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth

          is in Jesus, that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the

          old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and

          that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the the new self,

          which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness

          of the truth."


                                  In your mind imagine believing -  

                       

                        I AM:    A SON OF GOD ( Gal. 3:26 )


                        I AM:    BORN OF GOD  ( 1Jn. 5:1 )

                 

                        I AM:    A NEW CREATURE  ( 2 Cor. 5:15 )

      

                        I AM:    CHRIST'S  DISCIPLE  ( John 13:15 )


                        I AM:     THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT  ( 1 Cor. 6:9 )

  

                        I AM :     IN GOD AND HE IN ME  ( 1Jn. 4:15 )

 

    In describing who I am I can say, "because I am a son of God I too will inherit my Father's  Kingdom as described in the last two chapters in Revelations." As God's child I will be loved as my Father loved Jesus, his first born son. My Father will take care of me and give me all I need. Having God as my Father, very difficult times He uses this as an opportunity for my Spiritual growth. He uses it no matter how horrible it may seem. Faith and trust is needed. He will comfort me. Our enemy Satan has no control over me or my life. As a new creation I feel unique and know I am freed from Gods first deadly law - If I sin I die. I no longer have to fear death because God is my new Father and He knows I will disobey Him at times. He will forgive me if I sincerely ask him to. Sin has lost it's power over me. Being Christ's disciple I will live within my Father's will as I follow the internal voice of my Father's Holt Spirit. I am free from the overall care for myself because He cares for me and His loves me beyond comprehension. Many times my Father will do things that I can't ever understand but I believe He knows what He is doing. I only know what he tells me and that's OK. Since my body is His Holy temple I feel so full of love that it spills over onto other people. Because this is God's love in me, it gives of itself and doesn't expect anything in return. Being that my Father is in me and I in Him, I can open myself up without fear and love everyone even if they dislike me. My ego is being destroyed. I see My Father's image in all people. The love He has given me can forgive others even if I want to hold a grudge. These changed descriptions of what God gives can go on and on.

   My Father has no beginning and no end. He knows everything, is everywhere, and works in everything. He organizes His creations into a fantastic inner woven pattern, designed for His glory and majesty. We only have a small knowledge about his greatness, love and power. When I believe how I am related to God and Jesus I feel wonderful and peaceful. After all  He is my Dad.

So who are you really, what the world has told you, or who your Father has told you?                                                                        The decision is up to you.