The Mind of Christ

Tom Barnard

 

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 2:5 NKJV)

 

Jesus, Thy all-victorious love

Shed in my heart abroad;

Then shall my feet no longer rove,

Rooted and fixed in God.

My steadfast soul, from falling free,

Shall then no longer move,

While Christ is all the world to me,

And all my heart is love.

Charles Wesley

 

Whenever Christ enters a person’s life, He brings Love with Him, because He is Love. It is as inevitable as tomorrow’s morning sun. The writer to the Hebrews wrote, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Prior to verse 5, above, Paul wrote these words:

 

“…then make my joy complete by being like-minded,

Having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

(Philippians 2:2 NIV)

 

If I understand these two verses from Philippians correctly, we don’t need to pray for more love. What we need to pray for is more of Jesus. If we put Jesus first in our life, He will make love a new priority in our life. Does this mean that if we allow Jesus to be sovereign in our life, love will be a byproduct of His reigning there? Yes, that’s exactly what I mean. I believe Wesley understood it that way, too.

 

While Christ is all the world to me,

And all my heart is love.

 

A colleague of mine once said, “Love, and do whatever you want.” At first I thought he had turned weird on me. I thought he was advocating a life without laws. Wrong. He was advocating a life in which we become more like Jesus. He understood what I need to understand—that my “Job One” is to put Jesus first, and then let everything else fall into place after that—my family, my habits, my work, my church, my relationships, my life’s savings, my future—yes, even how I cast my vote in a presidential election! If Jesus comes first, then what comes second (and third and fourth and beyond) will be all the more clear. Jesus Christ first. That is having the mind of Christ.

 

Heavenly Father, I wish I could say that I have always had the Mind of Christ in everything I have done. We both know that would not be the truth. But if I know my heart right now, I very much desire that my mind and heart and soul be ONE with Jesus. I don’t ask to be more loving or honest or faithful in my professional life and personal life. I simply ask for more of Him. May His mind be in me, and my mind in Him. Amen.