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 23 of 28
It is not enough to have a mere academic acquaintance with the Word of God. It is necessary for the heart to be involved as well as the mind. The heart is the foremost and most central part of men. That is why the "first and greatest commandment" is to love God "with all your HEART, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matt 22:37). Mark 12:30 adds, "and with all your strength." I suggest this requires meditation.
David, who was a man ahead of his time, often spoke of meditation and its benefits. "The meditation of my heart shall be of understanding" (Psa 49:3). "My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD" (Psa 104:34). "O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psa 119:97). "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation" (Psa 119:99).
The meditations of the "sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Sam 23:1) were so profitable and productive that he prayed, "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation" (Psa 5:1). "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psa 19:14).
There is a richness of Divine fellowship found in the contemplation of God's Word that is unequaled in human experience. Thus David wrote, "Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered" (Psa 40:5). And again, "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee" (Psa 139:17-18).
At their heart, the Scriptures testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said to His critics, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39). In a very real sense, not only do the Scriptures bear witness of Christ, they are expressions of "the mind of Christ." They are, particularly regarding the Gospel, "the word of Christ." It is written; "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Col 3:16).
The "mind of Christ" is realized in the crucible of Divine fellowship. God has called us into this marvelous fellowship: "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor 1:9). In that fellowship an exchange takes place. In this, our thoughts are exchanged for the thoughts of Jesus. As He makes Himself "manifest" to us, the world, together with its delusions, begins to wane. We thus begin to see things from His perspective, and not from that of "the flesh."
This is more than learning some new facts, although that is involved. Neither can you appropriate spiritual perspective through human disciplines. It comes as Jesus "manifests," or makes Himself known to you (John 14:21). You obtain it when you possess "the mind of Christ," which is a benefit of Christ dwelling n your heart by faith. That is when the Word of Christ is dwelling in you richly, empowering you to strengthen Christ's brothers and sisters by insightful expressions of your faith.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I ask for grace to have frequent and prolonged fellowship with Your Son in my thoughts upon Your good Word.