Weekly Devotional 11-7-25 Having the Mind of Christ
Everyone, those of the world, and we Christians, have experienced fear of one kind or another. But something amazing happens to the person whose mind becomes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ. His Spirit, the Holy Spirit overwhelms that which overwhelms.
Many diseases of both body and mind are self-inflicted. For example, ulcers are often caused by worry and anxiety. Heart attacks are caused many times by overexertion. Unjustified worry, fear, prejudice, hatred, and envy can contribute to mental stress, which could lead to mental illness. So, one way to have a healthy mind is to avoid those practices. But the Bible way to a healthy mind is this, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). If you have the mind of Christ, worry will be offset by trust, enmity by love, and fear by faith. The apostle Paul was one such person. With confidence, He wrote >
“28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:28-39).
Paul learned that God does not want those who are His to live in fear. He learned by personal experience that God has predestined said person to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Rest assured, God cannot fail, no matter whatever befalls you or I, or anyone who belongs to Him will be conformed. This alone should arrest our fear.
Steve
Stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; the work of God on Behalf of Man