Your Daily Devotional for July 24, 2007

 

July 24,  2007

 

 

The Mind of Christ

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."

 

Philippians 2:5-7

 

 

Several years ago when personal computers were becoming popular, a friend of mine offered to teach me how to use one. As we began, he took a disc and placed it into the computer. He said he was reformatting the disc. This meant that all the information the disc contained had been erased and it was ready for new information to be added.

 

After salvation, God wants to reformat or reshape our minds into the image or pattern of Christ. Romans 8:6-7 says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Before we are saved, we have the mind of the world. God desires that we would take on His mind once we are saved.

 

Any Christian can develop the heart and mind of Christ! It does not matter what you have been through or where you are in life, you can develop the mind of Christ through His power. There are a few ways we can develop the mind of Christ.

 

One way we can develop the mind of Christ is by reading His Word. Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." The word let in that verse indicates a choice. We must choose to develop the mind of Christ. We must choose to spend time with Him in His Word. As we spend time with Him through His Word, we will learn more of Him and will develop His mind in our lives.

 

The more we spend time with someone, the more we will begin to think and act like them. This is not only true in our everyday friendships, but also in our time with God. You can always tell a Christian who is not spending time with God because they will not think and talk about the things of God—they will not have the mind of Christ. As we spend time in God's Word, we will begin to develop the mind of Christ.

 

Another way we can develop the mind of Christ is by heeding His commands. Several years ago, a bracelet came out that had the letters WWJD on it, indicating the words What Would Jesus Do? While this is a good thought, we must not only think of what Christ would do, but also follow through on it. First Peter 2:21 says, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." We must develop the mind of Christ by obeying Christ's commands.

 

Someone once said, "Belief determines behavior." What we believe will dictate how we act. If we believe in God and are developing His mind, we will obey His commands and will seek to live as He lived. When we have the mind of Christ, it will be evidenced in our actions.

 

Are you developing the mind of Christ? Are you spending time in His Word and heeding His commands? God desires that we would develop His mind in our lives. Ask God right now to help you reformat your thinking to have His mind.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 35-36 • Acts 25

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