A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Think Christian"

There were five us sitting around the restaurant table waiting for our order to arrive. There were three high school students, one college student from Honduras attending college here in the United States, and myself. The college student, Claudia, was sharing with us about her crash course in English. When she came to the states she could not speak a word of it. After she shared her story I encouraged the other students to talk to Claudia in her native language, for two of them were taking Spanish in school. They gave it a try. Though they did fairly well according to Claudia, I noticed that their sentences were jerky and broken. They were obviously struggling with each word.

The problem they were having was quite clear to me, so I offered some advice. I told them a secret to being able to speak fluently in another language. It is not really profound, but it really is a key to being able to master another language. The secret is; you must learn to think in that language. The students were thinking in English and translating the English words into Spanish in their minds before speaking them. What they needed to do was think in Spanish.

Scripture admonishes us to "have this mind among you which is in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) The New International Version uses the word "attitude," but that is not really strong enough. This directive is telling us that we are to think in a radically new way. It is essentially saying the same thing that I told those three high school students. To live Christian we have to think like Christ thinks; we have to think Christian.

Philippians 1:27 - 2:4 charges us to live a life worthy of the gospel. A new mind set is required to obediently follow this mandate. We need the very mind of Christ. When teaching His disciples about living as His disciples, Jesus used the formula "You have heard that it was said... But I say unto you." (see Matthew 5) His very words evoke a new way of thinking. He was not simply explaining what the things they had heard really meant. He was getting to the heart of the matter. His disciples were no longer to be conformed to the teachings of the world. They were to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. (Romans 12:2) They were to be made new in Christ and have a radically new way of thinking. They were to think like citizens of God's Kingdom.

Note again the Philippians passage. It directs us not to do anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. We are to look to other's interests, not only our own. We are to treat others with tenderness and compassion. These are not the thoughts or actions of this world. Our world tells us to be concerned for self. Our world tells us that self-love is the greatest love of all. Our world tells us to take care of number one. Our world is not into "emptying oneself and becoming nothing, taking the form of a servant." Yet, that is exactly the mind set we are to have. People who hate, seek revenge, and are self-absorbed do not go the second mile; do not turn the other cheek; do not feed and clothe enemies; do not bless those who persecute them. God's people do! We are able to do so by the power of the Holy Spirit abiding in us and because in Christ, we think different than the world does.

Not practical you say? You are correct. It is not intended to be practical for living in this world. It is about living Christian in a non-Christian world. It is about living holy in an unholy world. It is about living out the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Beloved, let us give ourselves wholly unto God that we may have the very mind of Christ. Then by the power of His Spirit, let us cultivate that mind through prayer and the study of His Word. Let us have this mind among us that is in Christ Jesus. There is no other way to be and live Christian.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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