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18th November: The Mind of Christ

Let this mind be in you. Phil 2:5 (AV) We have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16

In days crowded with routine, and nights broken by duty-calls, with turmoil of thought about all we have to do and conscious of the pressures upon us, our Christian faith may at times seem strangely remote, and familiar prayers empty and irrelevant. We find ourselves unable consciously to relate directly all that we have to do, say and decide to the word of God. We may be envious of those able always to quote a relevant scriptural verse, or who seem to be vividly aware of God's prompting at every turn. But important as the study of the written word is in transforming our thinking, and however reassuring an awareness of God's guidance may be, we can rejoice that if Christ, the living word, is dwelling in our hearts by faith (Eph 3:17), then he is himself renewing and controlling our thinking. As a result our attitudes and reactions are becoming like his, and our day to day decision-making is being influenced, albeit without our conscious awareness, by the `mind of Christ'.

Those who know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge (Eph 3:19) can make the words of the familiar hymn their daily prayer:

May the mind of Christ my Saviour
Live in me from day to day,
By his love and power controlling
All I do or say.
May the word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour...
May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything.
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.

Kate B Wilkinson.

God grant that I may today think, feel, understand and act
as one who has the mind of Christ.

Further reading: Col 3:12-17.

DFEN