Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped . . . -Philippians 2:5, 6
What does it mean for a believer to have the mind of Christ? Notice I apply this concept of having the mind of Christ to believers. An unbeliever cannot have the mind of Christ. He may have some Christ-like attitudes of love, mercy, and compassion, but he will not possess the mind of Christ apart from faith in Christ. If he would put his faith in the Lord, those attitudes previously mentioned would function at a far deeper level. Having the mind of Christ involves a transformation in our thinking, our outlook, our attitudes, and our perspective on life. Having the mind of Christ is revolutionary in today’s world. The Christian stance is intended to be one of love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and grace. We love others because the Lord first loved us and has called us to love one another.
Having the mind of Christ means that we seek to view others the same way in which the Lord sees them. We are called by Christ to be entirely motivated by pure and genuine love for others. We reach out in the name of the Lord, not in judgment and hatred, but rather with compassion and mercy, seeking to share with others the abundant life which Christ offers. We are challenged in scripture to have the mind of Christ Jesus, which is the next vital step in becoming a mature Christian. Here is the challenge given to us in the Word of God: take on the attitudes of the Lord Jesus. Let us not take on the attitudes of the world or of those who have no faith in the Lord, but rather let us have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ in us is to be constantly renewed by the Word of God and is daily being brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. The mind of Christ desires the will of God. We do not seek after our will, but we seek to do God’s will in all aspects of our lives.
Having the mind of Christ empowers us to accomplish whatever the Lord would have us do. We cannot become mature in our faith without putting on the mind of Christ. When we put on the mind of Christ we enter into a depth of faith that leads us to the abundant life offered to all who place their trust in Him.
From, Get up and Grow: Becoming a Mature Christian, by Dan Birchfield
