God’s Holy Spirit inspired Christ’s apostle Paul to write at 1 Corinthians 2, 16 “We have the mind of Christ.” Then in the very next verse, (3,1) he writes, “Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you were not yet ready for it.”
Then he explains himself, “In fact, you are still not ready, because you are still fleshly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and living as unbelievers?” These Corinthians were definitely Christians as we see in Paul’s greeting where he writes, “To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ and called as saints…” But in some ways, rather than following the voice of their Shepherd, the were following the voice of their flesh, their “old man.”
For some were saying, “I follow Paul,” while others were saying, “I am with Apollos.” They were following men, not Christ. That’s why Paul lovingly helps them to see themselves more clearly as spiritual people by telling them at Chapter 3, verse 16, “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary, and that the spirit of God lives in you?”
So, even though the Corinthians were “sanctified in Christ, called to be saints,” they were in some ways still obeying their flesh rather than the mind Christ which they had. Paul also wrote to the Galatians concerning this same subject. In Galatians 5, 16 through 26 he explains the differences between the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of God’s spirit.
“Let me explain further. Live your life as your spiritual nature (the mind of Christ,) directs you. Then you will never follow through on what your corrupt nature wants.
What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do.
If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws.
Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious: illicit sex, perversion, promiscuity, idolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions, envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus (having the mind of Christ Jesus,) have crucified their corrupt nature along with its passions and desires.
If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature. We can’t allow ourselves to act arrogantly and to provoke or envy each other. Gal 5:16-26 GW
Now we, the sanctuary of God’s spirit, hallow God’s name by manifesting the fruits of that spirit. Or, as Jesus put it at John 15, 8, “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.” So how do we grow to Christian maturity able to produce much fruit?
By being Jesus’ disciple, or student. By learning from Him. That’s why He invites us, “Come… take my yoke upon your shoulders, and learn from me.” (Matthew 11, 28 & 29) On another occasion He said, “I am the good Shepherd…My sheep hear my voice… and they follow me. John 10, 11 & 27
It is, of course, when we are facing difficult circumstances, that we are most strongly tempted to react as we have always reacted before. And it is at this very moment that we have the God-given opportunity to grow in Christ by pausing long enough to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10, 5) As with any newly developed skilled, with lots of repetition, it becomes easier.
Resist the temptation to act and instead pray, “Lord, How do You want me to handle this situation?” Then wait for the answer. P… a… u… s… e. Don’t let fear or habit drive you to an action that is guided by the thoughts of your “old self” or “corrupt nature,” the thoughts of the “self” trained by the world. It is in that pause that you can put on the “new self” (see Ephesians 4, 22 thru 24,) that listens to your Shepherd’s still, small voice. Let Christ who lives in you (John 15, 3) train you to love yourself and others in this difficult situation. Learn to pause so you can listen for the mind of Christ to guide you. This is the way you follow your Shepherd whom God sent to the earth to love you.
Yes, it is by letting Christ replace your old beliefs and thinking patterns with His mind, i.e. His truths, His values, His priorities, and His ways of thinking, that you will eventually be able to feel “blessed when they insult you and persecute you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Mathew 5, 11 & 12
Imagine God feeling about you the same way He rejoiced over the endurance of Elijah (who was condemned to death by Jezebel for glorifying God,) Jeremiah (whipped and put in stocks for warning Jerusalem of God’s anger resulting from their idolatry,) and Daniel who was thrown into the lions’ pit because he prayed to God.
My brothers and sisters, “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.” Heb 12:2 GNB
In other words, learn to keep listening to the voice of our Shepherd, paying attention to the “still small voice” emanating from the mind of Christ that we all have. That way you can look forward to “your great reward in heaven,” the joy of being one with Jesus and having your name written in the book of life.
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