The Mind Of Christ – March 17, 2009

The Mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:15-16

Jim Stephens

03-17-09

 

Scripture:

 

15 We who have the Spirit understand these things, but others can’t understand us at all. 16 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 2:15-16 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul made it clear that he didn’t depend on his intellect, his education, his persuasiveness, or his public speaking skills to communicate the Good News and to teach spiritual truth.

 

He depended on the thoughts of Jesus and the words given him by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus gave him the Spirit and the Spirit gave him the words to say and to write.

 

Application:

 

I have God’s Spirit, given to me as a gift of God’s grace.  I have access to the mind and thoughts of God as I read and meditate on the Bible’s teachings and stories and the words and thoughts of Jesus.

 

I must constantly choose to allow the Spirit to give me thoughts and words from the mind of Christ.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Today I ask you to remind me all through the day to think thoughts from the mind of Christ and to speak words given me by your Spirit.  And not just for today.  I ask that I may become known as one who thinks Jesus thoughts and speaks Spirit words.  Amen.

 

Think It Through – August 5, 2008

Think It Through

John 7:24

Jim Stephens

08-05-08

 

Scripture:

 

“Think this through and you will see that I am right.” (John 7:24 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

This little vignette from Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisee leaders of the Jews captures the essence of legalism.  Jesus had healed a man on a Sabbath Day and they were trying to arrest him – even kill him – because they thought the healing of the man was technically “work” and work was forbidden on the Sabbath.

 

Jesus tried to get  them to think it through – here and in other incidents recorded in the gospels – that to do good was permitted, even demanded, on a Sabbath Day or any other day.

 

Application:

 

Details may have changed, but legalism still hasn’t.  Religion still puts its own laws and policies above the law of the heart – to do good whenever it is in your power to do it.

 

The answer to legalism is still the same – “Think it through!”  Think it through in the light of the big picture, in the light of God’s higher law of love.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, it’s easy to be lazy and to make quick judgments based on the rules.  Help me to do the much harder work of “thinking things through” and to keep challenging and encouraging others to think things through and know that the law of love is right.  Amen.