How Do You Know If You Have the Mind of Christ?
Take every thought captive to obey Christ. ~ 2 Cor. 10:5
Did you know Jesus modeled mental health for us? Our emotional and mental wellness has a source: Christ himself. Before we excuse ourselves: “Yeah, but that was Jesus, and he was perfect!”, let’s take a few moments to see how he went before us, paving the way for us to become like him by understanding how he thought.
Christ Came to Serve, Not To Be Served
Jesus was confident in his purpose and clear in his thinking: people needed what he came to share; they were not objects to serve his own desires. From this place of gospel-centeredness, he ministered to others as a servant (Luke 22:24-27, Matt. 20:28, Phil. 2:5-7). Can you see how the mindfulness of Christ extended to all his relational activity? By living his purpose, he showed us ours. We are to be thinking about how we can serve others to the glory of God, not objectifying others to serve us.
Christ Normalized Suffering
We don’t like to think about suffering, much less endure it.* But hardship is part of life in a fallen world. Jesus didn’t deny it––he lived it. His adult life was not spent getting the next job, building the next house, or planning the next vacation. Jesus was intent on accomplishing what he was here to do––adopt us as sons and daughters by his substitutionary death––knowing that eternal glory awaits us all (1 Peter 4:12-19, Phil 3:10-11, 2 Tim. 2:12). Jesus saw the big, glorious picture and kept his eye on the prize: a forever home with us (Hebrews 12:2)!
How do we view the difficulties God has placed in our lives? Do we see them as normal human experiences that help us identify with Christ, and him with us? Do we consider our suffering as God’s invitation to think on the larger scale of eternity?
Christ Lived in Reality
Immanuel, God with us, walked among his creation (John 1:14), present in the moment with the people he was with. He wasn’t wishing to be somewhere else; he wasn’t fantasizing about an alternate universe; and he certainly wasn’t distracted by technology. Time was, for him as it is with us, too important to waste on escapism. He stayed focused on the main thing: being with the people in front of him. When he needed a break, he got away to pray and commune with God, not to self-soothe (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). His coping mechanism––his first resort––was relationship with his heavenly father. How much more peace we’ll gain if we remind ourselves of Jesus’ presence, and seek our Heavenly Father in times of stress!
Christ Did What He Saw His Father Do
John 5:19 describes Christ’s locus of attention: he watched with spiritual eyes to see his father’s actions, and then copied what he saw. Jesus was so attuned to God that their coordination was like a symphony––every move was felt in unison. What would our lives look like if we attended to what we saw Jesus do? What activities would be left by the wayside in favor of more important tasks for the kingdom?
Christ Internalized and Appropriately Applied Scripture
Jesus was victorious in defending against Satan’s attacks because he knew the truth God had said. The scriptures he had memorized gave him a clear head when the author of confusion confronted him in the desert, hungry and tired (Matt. 4:1-11). Now, he calls us to renew and transform our minds in the same way (Rom. 12:2). It is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32), no matter what we are bound to. No sin, no suffering, no addiction, no lie can stand up to the truth, and truth has but one Source (John 14:6). Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-5), providing knowledge and wisdom for every detail of our lives by the power of his Holy Spirit.
Do You Have the Mind of Christ?
If we are not intentionally seeking the mind of Christ, we do what is right in our own eyes (Deut. 12:8, Prov. 21:2), Friend, life just isn’t going to work well for you until you think like Jesus. This requires growth, but it’s not impossible. You need to pour truth over yourself in order to think straight, or you’ll find yourself reaching for worthless idols that can never satisfy your soul.
If you’re not there already, take yourself to where you can get community among other believers. Read God’s word––even a chapter a day will get you thinking the thoughts of Christ. Pray to God, asking him to clarify his message to you. Get counseling if you need it––there’s no shame in being a human with needs (in fact, EVERYONE needs counseling!). Practice growing in Christ likeness, conforming your mind to his, and you’ll find peace and purpose like you’ve never known.
*Note: if you are in an abusive relationship, it is not God’s will for you to suffer at the hand of your oppressor. Scripture does not endorse suffering needlessly; relational oppression is an evil to be exposed, not endured. Get help from a trustworthy source.
©2024 Julianne Knapp. First published 1.9.24
Did you know Jesus modeled mental health for us? Our emotional and mental wellness has a source: Christ himself. Before we excuse ourselves: “Yeah, but that was Jesus, and he was perfect!”, let’s take a few moments to see how he went before us, paving the way for us to become like him by understanding how he thought.
Christ Came to Serve, Not To Be Served
Jesus was confident in his purpose and clear in his thinking: people needed what he came to share; they were not objects to serve his own desires. From this place of gospel-centeredness, he ministered to others as a servant (Luke 22:24-27, Matt. 20:28, Phil. 2:5-7). Can you see how the mindfulness of Christ extended to all his relational activity? By living his purpose, he showed us ours. We are to be thinking about how we can serve others to the glory of God, not objectifying others to serve us.
Christ Normalized Suffering
We don’t like to think about suffering, much less endure it.* But hardship is part of life in a fallen world. Jesus didn’t deny it––he lived it. His adult life was not spent getting the next job, building the next house, or planning the next vacation. Jesus was intent on accomplishing what he was here to do––adopt us as sons and daughters by his substitutionary death––knowing that eternal glory awaits us all (1 Peter 4:12-19, Phil 3:10-11, 2 Tim. 2:12). Jesus saw the big, glorious picture and kept his eye on the prize: a forever home with us (Hebrews 12:2)!
How do we view the difficulties God has placed in our lives? Do we see them as normal human experiences that help us identify with Christ, and him with us? Do we consider our suffering as God’s invitation to think on the larger scale of eternity?
Christ Lived in Reality
Immanuel, God with us, walked among his creation (John 1:14), present in the moment with the people he was with. He wasn’t wishing to be somewhere else; he wasn’t fantasizing about an alternate universe; and he certainly wasn’t distracted by technology. Time was, for him as it is with us, too important to waste on escapism. He stayed focused on the main thing: being with the people in front of him. When he needed a break, he got away to pray and commune with God, not to self-soothe (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). His coping mechanism––his first resort––was relationship with his heavenly father. How much more peace we’ll gain if we remind ourselves of Jesus’ presence, and seek our Heavenly Father in times of stress!
Christ Did What He Saw His Father Do
John 5:19 describes Christ’s locus of attention: he watched with spiritual eyes to see his father’s actions, and then copied what he saw. Jesus was so attuned to God that their coordination was like a symphony––every move was felt in unison. What would our lives look like if we attended to what we saw Jesus do? What activities would be left by the wayside in favor of more important tasks for the kingdom?
Christ Internalized and Appropriately Applied Scripture
Jesus was victorious in defending against Satan’s attacks because he knew the truth God had said. The scriptures he had memorized gave him a clear head when the author of confusion confronted him in the desert, hungry and tired (Matt. 4:1-11). Now, he calls us to renew and transform our minds in the same way (Rom. 12:2). It is the truth that sets us free (John 8:32), no matter what we are bound to. No sin, no suffering, no addiction, no lie can stand up to the truth, and truth has but one Source (John 14:6). Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-5), providing knowledge and wisdom for every detail of our lives by the power of his Holy Spirit.
Do You Have the Mind of Christ?
If we are not intentionally seeking the mind of Christ, we do what is right in our own eyes (Deut. 12:8, Prov. 21:2), Friend, life just isn’t going to work well for you until you think like Jesus. This requires growth, but it’s not impossible. You need to pour truth over yourself in order to think straight, or you’ll find yourself reaching for worthless idols that can never satisfy your soul.
If you’re not there already, take yourself to where you can get community among other believers. Read God’s word––even a chapter a day will get you thinking the thoughts of Christ. Pray to God, asking him to clarify his message to you. Get counseling if you need it––there’s no shame in being a human with needs (in fact, EVERYONE needs counseling!). Practice growing in Christ likeness, conforming your mind to his, and you’ll find peace and purpose like you’ve never known.
*Note: if you are in an abusive relationship, it is not God’s will for you to suffer at the hand of your oppressor. Scripture does not endorse suffering needlessly; relational oppression is an evil to be exposed, not endured. Get help from a trustworthy source.
©2024 Julianne Knapp. First published 1.9.24