Have you ever had a thought, said something, or reacted to someone and then thought, “That certainly wasn’t very Christlike”? I have. More times than I’d like to admit.
That has caused me to ask myself, “Do I have the mind of Christ?”
Lately I have been thinking about 1 Corinthians 2:16: “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
— 1 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV) Those last few words challenge me: “But we have the mind of Christ.”
What does it really mean to have the mind of Christ?
I don’t believe Paul is telling us that because we are Christians, everything we think is automatically what Christ thinks. I know that’s certainly not true in my own life. There have been plenty of times when my first thought, my first reaction, or even my attitude was not very Christlike.
So what is Paul saying?
When we look at the verses leading up to this statement, Paul is talking about the difference between human wisdom and the wisdom that comes from God. He reminds us that we cannot figure God out through human reasoning alone. We need the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”
— 1 Corinthians 2:12 (ESV)
That is what makes 1 Corinthians 2:16 so powerful.
We cannot climb high enough intellectually to discover the mind of God. But God has given us His Spirit, and His Spirit helps us understand the things of God. The more I think about that, the more I realize that having the mind of Christ should make a difference in the way I live every day.
Think Like Jesus
Romans 12:2 tells us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”
God wants to change the way we think. That’s important because our thoughts have a way of becoming our attitudes. Our attitudes affect our decisions, and our decisions eventually show up in the way we live.
Philippians 2:5 says: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Paul then describes the humility and obedience of Jesus.
That causes me to ask myself some uncomfortable questions.
- When I don’t get my way, do I think like Jesus?
- When someone hurts or disappoints me, do I think like Jesus?
- When I’m tempted to become angry, judgmental, bitter, or discouraged, do I think like Jesus?
It’s easy to say we have the mind of Christ. The real test comes when life doesn’t go the way we want it to.
See Like Jesus
Having the mind of Christ should also change the way we see people. Jesus had a way of seeing people differently.
- Others saw sinners. Jesus saw people who needed forgiveness.
- Others saw outcasts. Jesus saw people who needed compassion.
- Others saw problems. Jesus saw people.
I wonder how many times I have looked at someone and formed an opinion without knowing their story.
I think that’s why Colossians 3:2 tells us: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
When we begin looking at life from God’s perspective, we start seeing people differently. The person who irritates us may be carrying a burden we know nothing about. The person who seems far from God may be closer to turning to Him than we realize. The person everyone else has given up on may be the very person God is asking us to love.
Maybe a good prayer for us would simply be: “Lord, help me see people the way You see them.”
Respond Like Jesus
This may be where it gets hardest. It’s one thing to know what Jesus would do. It’s another thing to actually do it.
Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us to: “take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
Sometimes we need to take a thought captive:
- Before it becomes words we can’t take back.
- Before we respond in anger.
- Before we judge someone’s motives.
- Before fear takes control.
- Before bitterness begins to grow.
- Before we send that message or say what we’re thinking.
Maybe we need to stop long enough to ask: “Lord, how would You have me respond?”
- Sometimes He may lead us to speak.
- Sometimes He may tell us to remain quiet.
- Sometimes He may tell us to forgive.
- Sometimes He may ask us to show grace when everything inside us wants to do otherwise.
- And sometimes He may simply ask us to trust Him when we don’t understand what He is doing.
Something to think about
Having the mind of Christ isn’t simply knowing more about Jesus. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to change the way we think, see, and respond.
So maybe this week, when something happens that gets under our skin, disappoints us, frightens us, or catches us off guard, instead of immediately reacting, we could stop and ask three questions:
- How would Jesus think about this?
- How would Jesus see this person or situation?
- How would Jesus respond?
I don’t always get that right. But I want to.
And I believe that as we spend time in God’s Word, listen to the Holy Spirit, and surrender our thoughts to Him, He will continue changing us. Little by little. Thought by thought. Day by day. Until people begin to see more of Jesus in us.
“But we have the mind of Christ.”
Prayer
Lord, thank You for giving me Your Spirit. I know that my thoughts and reactions don’t always reflect You. Renew my mind through Your Word. Help me to think like Jesus, see people the way Jesus sees them, and respond the way Jesus would respond.
When my thoughts begin to be controlled by anger, fear, pride, or discouragement, remind me to bring them back under Your authority. Help me to listen, trust, and follow You.
May others see more of Jesus in me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
