What's on Your Mind?
“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJV)
The United Negro College Fund, or UNCF, is an American philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The United-Negro-College-Fund's slogan, "A Mind is a Terrible Thing To Waste," has remained unchanged for more than three decades and has become embedded in the American vernacular.
As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ we also should be responsible stewards of mental resources. What we think and want we do with our thoughts should always be subjected to spiritual scrutiny. Too often our perceptions are polluted with the remnants of a rebellious nature. Sometimes there are instances in which retrospect rewards us with ruin because our perspective is clouded with conceit and confusion. This mentality causes our Lord’s purposes to be less prioritized. However, it is essential that we enjoy a Christ-like mentality. Without it we can never comprehend, communicate or change to a conduct that coincides with Christ.
A Christ-like mentality is a reality when the Holy Spirit dominates and leads our thoughts. Our preoccupation is not on the terrestrial but on the things that God is concerned with—specifically His will:
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” - Colossians 3:1–3 (KJV)
In today's text, the Apostle Paul reminds us that we were not in the process of procuring the mind of Christ. He emphatically proclaimed we possess the mind of Christ. By believing this fact in faith, we have the power switch to give light to a mind that is darkened by doubt. Feelings, on the other hand, will hold your light switch in the off position. And when the lights are off, you remain in the dark.
Dearly loved of God, we have in our possession the most beautiful mind that ever existed. Because of the Holy Spirit, we can know the positions about what is true and what is right for our lives. Consequently, we do not have to wear “What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD)” bands on our wrists because we can know what Jesus would do. With a Christ-like mentality, we would know what He would do in any given situation that crosses our paths. When our Lord was on the earth, He was adamant and consistent with this mind-set: “I always do the things that please my Father!” (John 8:29b KJV).
We can only know the things that bring pleasure to our God on the condition that we possess a Christ-like mentality. The mind of Christ is filled by the Spirit and consistently turned to the Scriptures for its authority, answers, actions, and direction. So when your mind is made up, ask yourself: “What is it made up with?” and “Who' s mind is it?”
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR