Knowing the Mind of God
We live in a time when talk shows and reality shows seem to dominate the entertainment industry. It seems that people cannot get enough glimpses into the inner lives and inner thoughts of the famous or the infamous. While many love to know the latest revelation or bit of news, today’s fascination is not new. God has been in the revelation business since the beginning of time. God has always sought to share with mankind His innermost thoughts and values. The truth of the matter is that God made the human race so that He might communicate with us. That innate desire to answer the big questions (“Who are we? How did we get here? and Why are we here?”) was designed by God. He wired us that way.
Last week, we took a brief look at Philippians, chapter 2. This passage speaks about Jesus. It tells us all about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. So, what idea or truth is so important in this Bible passage? Philippians 2 opens to us the mind of Jesus. If it is a ratings scoop to have a “one-on-one” chat with the richest person in the world, how much more important is it to get insight into the mind of the maker of our world? Consider, why would a famous person open up and give a glimpse into who they are and what they think? For the most part, people like to talk about themselves. It feeds our ego. It is a rush that other people might hold us in high regard. While God certainly does deserve praise and acclaim, He has opened up and given us insight about Himself and His creation so that we will benefit from the knowledge and experience. Philippians 2 gives us a view of the mind of Jesus so that our minds are uplifted and our hearts are melted. God wants to change our lives as He reveals Himself.
Many people read the Bible as an “inspirational" book. Others approach God’s Word as a guidebook. While the Bible is inspirational and the greatest source of guidance and instruction ever written, it is more than an instruction manual or a history book. Marriage instruction, family instruction, life instruction - it is all found in the Scriptures. But the Bible is more than that because it is God’s chief tool for changing people. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi, he was not saying: “Take a look at the mind of Jesus and be entertained or amazed.” Paul's message was: “Take a look at the mind of Christ and be transformed in your mind.” Paul was challenging his readers to change their thinking. Paul was instructing the Philippians about the mind of Christ so that they could and would think the same way.
Over the next few weeks, I want to explore the mind of Christ, as described in the Bible. I hope that you will follow along and be open to embracing Jesus and His ways. Many in our world are sympathetic to Jesus. Many find Jesus a curious person. Many might claim to like or respect Jesus. While these are nice things to say and think, they are inadequate. They fall far short of God’s expectations. God has stepped into this world, and He has revealed Himself so that we might embrace what He made us for. God made us to have fellowship with Him. God created us so that we might be loving members in His family. In order to have any of this, we must understand and have the mind of Christ. Keep looking up!