Mind

Mind

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. We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. 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

Just as human ears cannot hear high-frequency sounds, the person who doesn’t know Christ (even though he or she may be extremely intelligent and knowledgeable by human standards) cannot understand the wisdom of God. What a huge gift to know that after we trust Christ, we receive the mind of Christ! Having the mind of Christ doesn’t mean that we are perfect—our children keep us humble and honest in that regard. Rather, having the mind of Christ means that we look at life from God’s perspective, keeping in mind his truth, his values, and his desires. Through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit helps us think the way Jesus thinks. A song I learned in college is one I come back to frequently:

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow’r controlling

All I do and say.

May the word of God dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of God my Father

Rule my life in ev’rything,

That I may be calm to comfort

Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me

As the waters fill the sea;

Him exalting, self abasing—

This is victory.

May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

Seeing only Him.^a

God,

We are so rich because of all you have done for us. Thanks for the gift of your Word, which shows us what you are like. Thanks for the gift of your Spirit, who teaches us to think like you. Amen.