The Mind of Christ

This summer we are studying 1 Corinthians at church. I chose sermons from the book for each week, and at Bible study on Wednesday we read all the chapters that lead up to that text. A couple of weeks ago we were studying chapter 2. Right before the end it has a quote, which leaves the last phrase set apart on the page.

But we have the mind of Christ.

Just sitting out there by itself.

But we have the mind of Christ.

It smacked me between the eyes, really? We do? Do I? Not so much. That would mean my thoughts are selfless, loving, kind, gracious, forgiving, all the time.

All week that was on my mind. Another week went by, and I was driving to an appointment and a particular driver gave me a lot of trouble. First the driver cut me off in traffic. Then she was in front of me on the exit, then put on her brakes, slowed down on the highway to change to the other lane. It was both scary and maddening. I was late to the appointment too, and the reason I was late was I had lost something important at home, so it was just a frustrating day all around. When that car stopped on the highway, I just started yelling. Then I said to myself, “I’m supposed to have the mind of Christ. How do I do that?”

Then something new hit me. That sentence has a plural subject. It says WE have the mind of Christ. I’m not capable of having the mind of Christ by myself. But together, we can have the mind of Christ. That night one of my pastor friends wrote on Facebook about carrying each other’s burdens. That was the night of that bad day. I asked him to carry me for a bit. He said he’d pray for me. 

Together we can have the mind of Christ, because when one is down another can be up, and when one is struggling to do the right thing, another can remind them it’s worth it, and when one is sad and lonely, another can encourage them. It takes all of us working together to be who we need to be in Jesus.

So let's have the mind of Christ, together.