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Mind of God
By Warren Zehrung – April 2, 2011
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Who can know the mind of God?
Is it impudent of us to believe that we should
strive to have the mind of God, when the Bible reveals that God’s thoughts and ways
are unfathomable to mankind?
Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”
So God very clearly says that He is in a league far beyond
that of men. We cannot begin to comprehend what is going on.
If mankind cannot know the thoughts of God, who can hope
to know the mind of God?
We are going through the epistles and we are now in I Corinthians.
We are studying the epistles for the very reason that we desire to know the mind of God, and
to be like Jesus Christ, because the mind of Christ is the mind of the Father.
Paul answers this question, “Who can know the mind of
God?”
We, in the church of God, have learned that we are in the family of God;
even now we are the children of God. That set us apart in a different
category. Our critics would say that we want to be as powerful as God is, or
that we wish to possess the wisdom and creative might of God. Our critics
accuse us of being prideful and rebellious like Lucifer. You remember what
Lucifer said:
Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I
will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount
of the congregation, in the sides of the north…
Lucifer wanted to be in place of God, instead of God.
Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.
That is not what we want to do. Those who accuse us of such things
are guilty of carnal thinking, and it comes from those who do not have the mind of God.
We, in God’s Church, do not wish to compete with God, or
remove God from His Holy Throne.
We do not pridefully desire to be equal in majesty or sovereignty with God
Almighty. We are to put on the mind of God, and we are told to do so in the scriptures.
Let me give you a set of Godly characteristics that when we have made them a
part of ourselves, we will 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.”
These are characteristics of God’s nature. They are not characteristics of
our nature, not inherently, but we are to put them on. This is the nature of
God and these are His attributes that you and I must put on so that we might
have eternal life. And we do not often think of these traits in this way but
these are the characteristics that describe and sum up God’s nature.
In the flesh, each of us resembles our fleshly Dad, who gave us our earthly
existence and our temporal life. In the exact same way, God the Father gives
us of His spiritual life, at our baptism, with the laying on of hands. We
become capable of acquiring those characteristic traits of the spiritual
mind of God that are necessary for eternal life. It seems like some people
think that when they come into God’s church, they get baptized and they go
into a holding pattern and they do not think about becoming like God. They
get involved and caught up in mundane things, church activities, fellowships
and relationships and those kinds of things. But, brethren this is something
that is incumbent on us, that we put on these attributes that will make us
have, cause us to have, the mind of God.
I John 5:11 “This is the record [testimony] that God hath given to us,
eternal life, and this life is in his Son [Jesus Christ].”
We must be like Christ, we must be like the Father, and we must have the
mind of God, to have eternal life.
The very night before He died, Jesus spoke of knowing the mind of God; He
knew that it was necessary for eternal life.
Jesus prayed:
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee [God the
Father] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
How do we know God? How do we have the mind of God? How can we be like God?
Every act of God is an act of Godly love.
How can we begin to comprehend God’s thoughts and actions? First, we have to
come out of this present evil world, and be separate.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, [to be in complete accord with the mind of God], that
ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
What is in the mind of God? That is what must be in our mind, and we must
renew and cleanse our mind of how it was when we were in the world.
God is great, He is almighty, and He is all-powerful.
Do we have any comprehension of the incredible size of the universe, with
all of its stars and galaxies out there, that show the wisdom and the depth
of the mind of God, and how infinite His power is?
I Corinthians has a decidedly Passover and Unleavened Bread theme. Paul
wrote this book during the Passover season, and it was very much on his
mind.
I Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for
us:
That has to do with the renewing our minds. We have to put on the mind of
God, and our minds need to be in accord with the mind of God. They had put
the leaven out of their homes, and they had examined themselves.
I Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened
bread of sincerity and truth.
There is no malice or wickedness in God’s mind, and they need to be removed
from our minds. Sincerity and truth are two more characteristics of God’s
mind.
We see that in everything we are enriched by God:
I Corinthians 1:7-9 So that ye come behind [lack] in no gift; waiting for
the coming [revealing] of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who [Jesus Christ] shall
also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless [without reproach]
in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [For] God is faithful, by whom ye were
called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are very much looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. If we have
the mind of God that helps us to become, even in our carnal state, without
reproach when Jesus Christ does return. We see that God is faithful, which
is one of the characteristics of God’s mind. God is not going to forsake us.
God loves us, and He created us to be with Him for all eternity.
We come to verse 10, and we see the very specific purpose that this book of
Corinthians is written. What did Paul have on his mind?
I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech [exhort] you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all [avoid disputes] speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined [knit]
together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
This is church-wide, all of the brethren, wherever they are scattered and
wherever they might be. What mind is Paul speaking of here in verse 10?
Paul is going to carry this theme of “no division” through many chapters and
verses, because unity of the brethren is a vitally important factor for our
unity with God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Paul exhorts the saints in the same way:
II Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good
comfort, be of one mind…
‘Be on the same page’ is the way that we say it nowadays. We say, “Let us
think the same, let us speak the same, let us do the same things”.
At Passover, we always mention the humble mind of Christ.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of
Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of
your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel;
We are to be of one mind, and that one mind is the same mind with the
brethren, with Jesus Christ and with God the Father.
Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind.
It is not me hammering this, it is the Apostle Paul. This is the inspired
Word of God.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem the other better than themselves…
How do we apply this concept of the “lowliness of mind” when we speak of
God? Is God humble, does He have humbleness of mind?
Philippians 2:4-5 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also
on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus:
Jesus Christ said to Himself, ‘I will worship the Father in sincerity and
truth, I will not sin, I will be obedient to God’. What is the mind of
Christ? We need to ask ourselves this question. Then let this mind be in us.
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God:
Jesus Christ is God.
Philippians 2:7-8 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross.
Jesus Christ came down to this earth in the form of sinful flesh; he was a
baby. Notice that it says that Jesus humbled Himself. That is only one of
the characteristics of God that you and I are to put on. You may say that
you do not have a problem with humility and that you are humble and meek by
nature. We are to have the humility of God the Father, and the humility of
Jesus Christ. Is that a new concept that we have not thought of?
I Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
I Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the
flesh hath ceased from sin;
This is not a unique or far-reaching concept in the scriptures, but a very
prevalent one.
Let us go back to Paul, where he is addressing the lack of same-mindedness
among the church brethren. He has the problem where they are not of the same
mind.
I Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you [Paul had been
informed], my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there
are contentions [quarrels and wrangling] among you.
This shows that they were not of one mind with one another, nor with Christ,
nor with the Father. That is exactly what we see in the churches of God
today.
I Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you says, I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Everyone is guilty of division. Today we say, I am of this group, I follow
only that apostle or that pastor general, or that organization.
Paul asks the question in verse 13:
I Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye
baptized in the name of Paul?
The Church is the Body of Christ, and we cannot divide Christ.
I Corinthians 1:14-17 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus
and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I
baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I
baptized any other. For Christ sent me [as His apostle] not to baptize, but
to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ
should be made of none effect.
Paul is saying that really intelligent arguments and spiritual arguments
lose their effect on the unconverted world. It goes over the heads of the
people who are not converted.
The gospel message takes root only in those who have the mind of God.
I Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross [tidings of a crucified
Messiah] is to them [in the way of perdition] that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved [in the way of salvation] it is the power of God.
But only those with the mind of God can understand that. The people in the
world think that they hear the same thing that the people of God hear.
I Corinthians 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Paul is quoting here from Isaiah 29:14.
I Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the
disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
No matter how they try, they are celebrating Christmas, Easter, practicing
idolatry, and they do not understand that we are going to be eternally the
children of God. We will be divine beings with God. They are all caught up
with trinity and all kinds of false doctrine.
I Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by
[worldly] wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of
preaching to save them that believe.
Here we see self-deprecating Paul likes to play on words. What Paul is
saying is that God turned the world’s wisdom into foolishness, and then
saves those who believe by the foolishness of Paul’s preaching.
I Corinthians 1:22-2 For the Jews require a sign [heavenly miracle], and the
Greeks seek after [their own] wisdom [or philosophy] But we preach Christ
[a] crucified [Messiah], unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called [the Christian Saints],
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.
There are two different things going on, and Paul is trying double track us
here. He is saying that the world is running on the one track, and we are
running on the other track. We are not the same. The things of God are
higher and better.
I Corinthians 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise
men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called…
It is not about I.Q., it is not about status, not about rank, and it is not
about privilege.
I Corinthians 1:27-28 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and
things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not,
to bring to naught things that are:
To the people of the world it does not make sense. Why is God choosing us,
the weak of the world?
I Corinthians 1:29-30 That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him
[we are the children of God] are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto
us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: [more
Godly attributes] That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him
glory in the Lord.
That is quoting from Jeremiah 9:23-24.
There is no chapter break as we go into the second chapter of I Corinthians:
I Corinthians 2:1-2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellency of speech [not a charismatic, silver-tongued speaker] or of
wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to
know anything among you, [except the knowledge of] Jesus Christ, and him
crucified.
Paul let the gospel stand on its own merits, he did not have a lot of flash
and glamour or anything, and he did not make a sales pitch. He just taught
that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of all of the scriptures that pointed
to a Messiah. He would be a Messiah that would suffer, and be crucified.
I Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much
trembling.
Paul was just shaking in his boots understanding the great responsibility
that God had given him, to preach the gospel truth. He was not in fear of
his life, and he was not in fear of being tormented by the Judaizers. No, he
was in fear of God, he had a proper respect for the office and
responsibility that God gave to him.
Over and over, Paul is demonstrating the weakness of human nature and human
intellect, as compared to the wisdom of God, the nature of God, the power of
God and the mind of God. We are not of this world.
I Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words
of man's wisdom [not for show], but in demonstration of the Spirit and of
power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God.
There is a difference, we are not the same as the world and we do not watch
the Billy Graham’s and the other men that come on television. They are of
the world, and they do not understand the things of God. They read the
verses, but they cannot explain them, because they are not called and they
are not obedient. They cannot understand the mind of God, and they are
always off base and going in the wrong direction. They do not even worship
the true God.
I Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [in
Christian wisdom]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of
this world, that come to naught:
Paul is saying that those men come to nothing. The world recognizes them as
princes and leaders now, but they will not reign or rule with Jesus Christ.
It is for us, brethren, to reign and rule with Christ.
I Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [to the church
brethren], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto
our glory:
Or we might say the hidden wisdom by which we are being glorified, because
we are becoming children of God, and putting on the glory of God.
I Corinthians 2:8 Which [hidden wisdom] none of the princes of this world
knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory.
What is the problem with the princes of this world, of the world rulers?
They are led by human nature, carnal nature. They only know the way of this
evil world. All they know is human nature, and they have nothing more
substantial to fall back on.
Next, Paul is going to continue to explain the vast difference between those
who are motivated by human nature (on one hand) and those who are blessed
with God’s exceptional nature (on the other). There is a great difference,
and do not let anybody tell you that we are all the same. When the apostasy
came the leaders tried to say that we are all the same as the world, and we
should say that because we keep the Feast we understand the plan of God.
They tried to put us in the same quagmire as this evil world. That is not
what the scriptures teach.
Paul is unabashedly saying that God’s people are an exceedingly exceptional
people.
This exceptionalism is nothing to boast about – it is by God’s design – for
God’s purposes. God is creating children in His image, and His likeness.
Even now, we are the firstfruits, and the other people will be called, and
they will be a part of it.
It is not politically correct to give God the credit for our American
exceptionalism.
Political correctness declares that everyone is exactly the same, and that
we are all in this boat together. But that is not the way that it is. God is
not working with all peoples and nations in the same way that He has dealt
with a few special nations and peoples.
God is blessing some, and God is calling some.
Let me tell you about American exceptionalism.
American exceptionalism is the fact that the United States occupies an
extraordinary place among the nations of the world in terms of its rule of
law, its Godly blessings, its Judeo-Christian national creed, its historical
development, its ascendancy to unsurpassed world power, and the unique
origin of its peoples.
British exceptionalism is the same, and it was no fluke of history that the
British swept the world with the rule of law. This was entirely by God’s
hand.
To the foolish world it seemed to have been by might and power that these
two brother nations gained world ascendancy, with governing and controlling
influence.
Zechariah 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD
of hosts.
It was by the power of God, by the Spirit of God, and by the mind of God.
Paul tells why the world cannot fathom such a concept.
There is only one way to understand what is going on; we must begin to be
like God, and have the mind of God.
Paul continues to say that God’s people are an exceedingly exceptional
people.
I Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.
Paul is quoting from Isaiah 64:4, Paul knew and understood the Scriptures.
I Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us [How?] by his Spirit:
for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
We cannot have the mind of God without having the Spirit of God, for they
are one and the same.
I Corinthians 2:11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit
of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the
Spirit of God [in him].
There is the difference between children of this world and the children of
God.
There is the difference between human nature and God’s nature.
There is the difference between the mind of man and the mind of God.
Paul says that we are no longer of the world, with the mind of the world.
I Corinthians 2:12-14 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but
the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's
wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches comparing [explaining]
spiritual things to spiritual [people with the Mind of God]. But the natural
man [as opposed to the spiritual man] receives not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned [comprehended].
You can show it to them and explain it to them from the Bible, and they will
say that does not apply, and you are interpreting it the wrong way. They
will not grasp and understand it.
I Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he
himself is judged of no man.
That is because the world lacks the capacity to discern spiritually. They
cannot judge you in the keeping of Holy Days in your understanding of the
Plan of God.
I Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may
instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ [the mind of God].
Paul is quoting Isaiah 40:13, where he says “who has known the mind of the
Lord”. The word for “mind” is nous, and it means the intellect. Who has
known the intellect of the Lord, or the mind of the Lord…?
This is a really good scripture to show that the Spirit of God and the mind
of God are one and the same.
Isaiah 40:13 Who hath directed [pondered, weighed] the Spirit [‘ruach’ –
wind, breath or spirit] of the LORD, or being his counselor hath taught him?
This is what Paul is saying in I Corinthians 2:16, but we see that Paul uses
the “mind of the Lord,” rather than the “Spirit of God.”
We have always said that the Spirit of God is the mind of God, the power of
God, the love of God, the forgiveness, mercy, and you can just go on and add
all of the characteristics of God.
Think on this, brethren. If by God’s infinite mind the vast universe came to
be in existence… And, if by God’s infinite mind our nations became the
greatest nations to ever exist… What does that foretell for those of us who
are led by the mind of God and His Holy Spirit? God does great things; God
does awesome things, superb and magnificent things. What are we called to?
What is God going to do with us? We see what He did with the universe. We
see what He does with nations, what is He going to do with us?
Daniel provides the answer:
Daniel 12:3 They shall shine as the brightness of the stars forever and
ever.
That speaks of the incredible human potential and eternal life of those who
have the mind of God.
Do we have any comprehension of the incredible size of the universe with all
its stars and galaxies out there that show the wisdom and depth of the mind
of God, and His infinite power? Do we have any idea of that?
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge
of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Then Paul quotes Isaiah 40:13, again. This is where we get the title of the
sermon, “For who has known the mind of the Lord.”
Romans 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His
counselor?
What we strive for as Christians is to acquire the mind of God, and the
characteristics of God. This is something that we should think about very
often. We should be asking ourselves, “Am I becoming like Jesus Christ, am I
becoming like God the Father? Do I think like God thinks? What would God do
in this situation? How does God think on these things?” Think about the
things in our lives.
Here, in Colossians 3, are a few more Godly characteristics that make up,
and help us define the mind of God. When we see these fruits of the spirit
let us understand that this is the way that God is, and this is the way that
we have to become.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
We will come back to this humbleness of mind in this verse, because we do
not often think of God as meek or humble. The carnal mind, still within us,
thinks of those characteristics as being wimpy and weak.
Colossians 3:13-15 Forbearing one another [putting up with uncomfortable
idiosyncrasies], 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 charity [‘agape’ Godly love toward all], 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.
Do we strive, do we contend, do we divide, or fight?
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
That is saying, let the mind of God, let the Word of Christ, and let the
testimony of Jesus Christ dwell in you. Do we speak of the sermons, do we
speak of the statutes and the judgments of God?
Colossians 3:12 Put on humbleness of mind…
Let us just take one of these traits and talk about it a little. We will
speak on humbleness of mind, because that seems to be a little bit difficult
when we think of God being humble.
Our human nature wants us to be somebody, to have things our way, and it
wants us to be boss. Human nature wants to look good, and want the attention
and the “limelight.” Human nature wants to be recognized and rewarded, and
human nature is status-conscious. You know, drive the big car, and wear the
three piece suit. Our human nature wants us to go up the ladder of success,
and to have the high position, have the rank, and have the esteem.
Just like Diotrephes in III John, human nature wants the preeminence. That
is ungodly conduct, no matter who it is in. I do not care how important we
might think that we are.
Humility, on the other hand, is being down to earth and free of pretense,
and that we do not know it all. It is being free of pretense.
Ask yourself for a moment, is God humble? The thought of God being humble is
almost foreign to us. It is hard for us to imagine that humility is a
characteristic of God. Our minds wish to think the opposite, that God is the
greatest, He is the most powerful Supreme Being.
If I had a sermon entitled, “God’s Humility,” we would probably not be
entirely comfortable with the concept.
But consider this, Jesus teaches us,“…that if you have seen Me you have seen
the Father...” (John 14:9).
In other words, Jesus is the embodiment of the spiritual characteristics of
the Father. And since Jesus was perfectly humble, then the Father is also
humble.
When we speak of fruits of the Spirit, we are speaking of Godly
characteristics that we must acquire, and we do not come by a single one of
them naturally, or on our own.
Humanity, as a whole, cannot begin to possess any of God’s characteristics
to the extent that converted brethren are able to attain the fruit of God’s
Spirit.
Godly humility is such a trait of divine character.
We saw the best example of humility in Christ’s example.
Philippians 2:8 "Being found in appearance as a man, He [Jesus] humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the
cross."
What does it mean for God to humble Himself?
The thought of humbling oneself is an anathema to many in the Church of God,
who believe it necessary to put on an air of authority and supremacy, and
their office requires and demands such adulation. They think that they will
not be respected unless they hold themselves two or three notches above
everybody else.
Is it possible for God the Father to be humble? Yes, God is humble, and
Jesus says, “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father.”
Rich, important men do not associate and mix with the common man on the
street, because it is beneath their dignity. They do not lower themselves to
mingle with the hired help. They would say, “Servants know their place.”
Would Almighty God, in all His perfection, power, and glory, become
intimately truly involved with mere man? We are just a worm. Would God want
to have a relationship with us, and be close to us? The answer is a
resounding, “Yes.” God says, “Come and have a close personal relationship
with Me.”
David was awe-struck by the humility of the Creator God, in that He would
care deeply and intimately for those lowly, so inferior creatures of His
making - mankind.
Psalms 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who
hast set thy glory above the heavens.
God is above the heavens, He is omnipotent, He is everlasting, all-powerful
and all-wise.
Psalms 8:2-3 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength because of thine enemies, that thou might still the enemy and the
avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and
the stars, which thou hast ordained;
This is where David really goes through a spiritual exercise in his mind,
and he ponders on the humility of God.
Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,
that thou visitest him?
God knows man, God loves man, God deals with man, and God makes it possible
for us to be reconciled to Him. God cares, and God humbles Himself from His
eternal higher than heaven position.
Psalms 8:5-6 For thou hast made him a little [while] lower than the angels,
and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou made him to have dominion
over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
This is why God has a relationship with us, it is because of our incredible
human potential that we have in store. He is making it possible for us to be
the children of God, to be in the Kingdom of God, and to be in the Family of
God.
Psalms 8:7-9 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl
of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passes through the paths
of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
God humbled Himself and became a man. He died a most ignominious death on
the cross. He humbled Himself more than any man has been humbled.
Godly humility in us would recognize that every single one of God's people
is necessary and important to the whole of the Body of Christ.
Humility is only one of the characteristics of God’s mind, and there are
many of God’s attributes that we must acquire.
I recommend that we take every attribute of the mind of God that we have
seen today in Colossians and in Galatians, and expand it as we did with
humility, and let us examine ourselves in that way as we prepare for
Passover.
This is an incredible thought that we are to have the mind of God. We are to
be like God, to love like God, to forgive like God, and to have mercy like
God.
Let us, with all diligence, put on the mind of God.
WZ/pp/sl
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