Dear Brethren,
There is nothing more that we would like than to think that we are on the same page God is on. Sometimes we like to think, “Just you and me Lord,” but that is not the kind of relationship that we are to have with our God. God designed man to be interactive with others – especially in a spiritual way. After all, we are to be our brother’s keeper, and if we are not, how much different are we than Cain who killed his brother.
Paul desired greatly to teach the Corinthians to think as God thinks. He sought to raise their thinking above the mere basics to the higher spiritual concepts of the mind of God. Sadly, we read that he was unable to do so because of their unwillingness to rise above their base nature.
1Corinthians 3:1-3 Brethren I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal:
When we get to thinking that we think a lot like God does, we need to remember what God says:
Isaiah 55:8 My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
And yet, there is no more important goal for a Christian than to begin to think as God thinks so that we might know God and become like God. Make no mistake about it – we are not much like God at this point. We are warned not to get the “big head” which would prove to be our undoing.
Romans 12:2-3 Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renovation of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
And then we are told to remember the humility of Jesus Christ if we are to have the mind of Christ:
Philippians 2:5 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
1Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him or be His counselor? (Romans 11:34) But we have the mind of Christ.
This is not saying that we desire to be as powerful as God or possess the wisdom and creative might of God. That would be carnal thinking. We do not pridefully desire to be equal in majesty or sovereignty with God Almighty. What we strive for as Christians is to acquire the characteristics of God’s thinking. Here are a few:
Colossians 3:12-16 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on Godly love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.
And there is another set of Godly characteristics that when we have made them a part of ourselves, we have put on the mind of God:
Galatians 5:22-23 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Brethren, those are Godly attributes that must be at the foundation of our thought process. Until that’s the way we think – we have not yet begun thinking like God.
***
Sermon: |
"Thinking Like God" |
|
|
|