THE MIND OF CHRIST -- Tomorrow:
"For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:11-16, NASB).
Devotion 19 of 28
Peter speaks of this as the "mind" possessed by Jesus--the "mind of Christ," as Paul would say. Here are his words. "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with THE SAME MIND: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1 Pet 4:1 KJV). The RSV reads, "arm yourselves with the same thought." The NASB reads, "arm yourselves with the same purpose." The NRSV says, "arm yourselves with the same intention."
"Mind" is translated from a word meaning "the mental conception which follows consideration and deliberation, a way of thinking, or insight. It is a rational frame of thought. The idea of Peter's statement is this: Have the same mind set as Jesus in being ready to suffer, and even to die, for the cause of the Lord. Approach your sufferings as Jesus did, resolutely and confidently, and with His perspective.
Jesus is more than a mere example to be emulated. We are to have the same disposition as He did. Let it be clear, you cannot think like Jesus did, particularly regarding suffering, without possessing Christ Himself. His mind cannot be acquired by rote, or assimilated through study. Rather, the possession of this mind is the direct result of Jesus showing Himself to us. As He said, "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will MANIFEST MYSELF to him" (John 14:21). Among the many benefits of this revelation of Christ's person is the acquisition of "this mind, which was also in Christ Jesus."
This is a discerning mind--one that perceives what God has prepared for them that love Him! For example, Jesus "endured the cross, despising the shame," in anticipation of "the joy set before Him" (Heb 12:1- 2). The keen awareness of what God had "prepared" for Him, so to speak, enabled Him to endure the very curse of His Father (Gal 3:10-13), while being "made sin" for us (2 Cor 5:21).
Again, you may choose to believe you can appropriate this "mind" in your own strength and wisdom. That persuasion, however, is a delusion. Arming yourself with the "mind" Jesus possessed presupposes the poverty of natural resources. The "whole armor of God" is also appropriated by the child of God. Mind you, it is appropriated, not developed. The "truth," "righteousness," "peace," "faith," "salvation," and "Word of God" that are appropriated are found outside of ourselves (Eph 6:14-17). They are not developed, they are obtained. They existed in their totality BEFORE we obtained them. It is the same with "the mind of Christ," with which you are to be "armed." It is a fully developed mind set that is appropriated, not one that is created and developed by men.
We are to "arm" ourselves with that same mind, thereby becoming equal to the challenges of life in "this present evil world." It should not surprise us that Satan would introduce a doctrine forbidding us to have that "mind." Such delusions are to be thrown down with spiritual weaponry (2 Cor 10:5ff). They are unworthy of being entertained by those professing faith in Christ.
PRAYER POINT: Father, since I have learned by experience of the inadequacy of the natural mind, I praise You through Jesus Christ for His mind, that can be in me!