“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16
It can be said that only true believers in Christ will be able to inherit the mind of Christ. The mind of the natural man is a “reprobate”, “carnal” and a “defiled” mind, characterised by a daily walk “in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Eph 4:17-18).
When a person is born again through faith in Christ, he should be “transformed by the renewing of [his] mind” (Rom 12:2) and should henceforth seek to conform one’s mind to the mind of Christ in every attitude and in every decision.
There are many aspects to this infinite mind, of course, but the key is undoubtedly the great attribute of sacrificial love (for others). “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus: Who . . . became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:5-6, 8).
Thus, following Christ’s example, we should “do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others better than ourselves” (Phil 2:3). We should receive “the word with all readiness of mind” and serve “the Lord with all humility of mind”. Herein is the mind of Christ.
This is the difference between a true believer and a non-believer. Although we do have our moments of weakness and we sin, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit that will convict us of our sins and transform us slowly to the likeness of Christ. It’s through the daily reading and meditations of God’s Words that will renew our minds and sanctify our hearts.
May The Lord grant us a heart that is soft and tender to the sweet promptings of the Holy Spirit so that we may be willing to surrender our old forlorn sinful ways to be instructed and have the mind of Christ.
