Dupes or Disciples?

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind."

Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

The problem with the human mind is not just that in its natural or unconverted state, the mind is contrary to God. That's bad enough. But there's also a cosmic battle being waged for the control of your mind. This world, under the control of Satan, is filled with every kind of “philosophy and empty deception” imaginable - and people by the millions are buying into these false systems. But Satan isn't satisfied with that. He's also after the minds of believers.

Now he knows he can't mess with our salvation, because we are secure in Christ. But if the Devil can mess with our minds and get us thinking like pagans, he can render us useless in our impact for Christ.

Let me give an example of how hard Satan is working to capture people's minds. Someone has pointed out that although the New Age movement has no world headquarters, no full-time missionaries on the field, and no coherent organization, it is attracting disciples at a dizzying rate.

Now we know that the New Age philosophy is about as mindless and silly as any “ism” going. Pay a few hundred bucks and learn how to be your own God. So if it's so mindless, why are millions of people flocking to New Age teaching? Who's behind it? I'll give you one guess. No human is smart enough to pull this off.

That's a good example of what passes for thinking out there in the world. But look whom we have to pattern our minds after: Jesus Christ, “the fulness of Deity… the head over all rule and authority” (vv. 9-10). Because He is complete, we are complete in Him - including our minds. Everything you need to develop a Christlike mind, you will find in Him.

The problem with many of us is that we are listening to John and Joe and whomever instead of to Jesus. When we stand before Christ, some of us will have to say, “Well, John told me…” To which Jesus will answer, “John's not even up here. What were you doing listening to him?” So I ask you the question I ask myself: Are we going to be Satan's dupes or Jesus’ disciples?

If you've ever wondered why you need to develop a Christian mind,
Colossians 2:8 should answer your question.
Excerpt from "Time to Get Serious" - Tony Evans

The Mind of Christ

 

Scripture:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

 

Reflect:

How do we as believers in Jesus Christ have “the mind of Christ”?

 

Hundreds of years before Paul wrote today’s verse, the prophet Isaiah wrote the words that Paul was referencing: “Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?” (Isaiah 40:13-14, NIV). Isaiah was saying that wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are completely from God. God was not taught these things by anyone and no one knows better than He does.

 

In today’s verse, Paul says that the “natural person” views things of God as “folly” and they are “not able to understand”. Why? Because they have not accepted Christ and therefore, the Holy Spirit is not in them. Without the Holy Spirit, they are not able to discern spiritual things.

 

So who is able to discern the things of the Spirit of God? Those of us who are in Christ Jesus! In 1 Corinthians 2:11-12, Paul explains, “So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:11-12, ESV).

 

As believers in Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God dwells within us. Because we have His Holy Spirit, we are able to discern spiritual matters. The Holy Spirit illuminates our minds so that we are of one mind with Christ.

 

So how do we access this understanding that God has given us? One way to understand the mind of God is through His Word. But even unbelievers can read the Bible. In order to rightly interpret and understand the Scriptures, we need the Spirit of God to enlighten us. In Luke 24:45, it says that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” right before He ascended to heaven.

 

Friends, in Christ, you are filled with the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit lives in You. You have the mind of Christ and have been given wisdom and discernment. As Christians, we are not “natural people” who view the Word of God as “foolishness.” We are spiritual people who view the Bible as the Truth of God. Whenever you read the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to shed His light on His Word so that you can correctly understand and interpret what He said.

 

Pray:

God, I want to be of the same mind as You. Open my mind to Your Word. Thank You for Your Spirit that dwells in me and gives me wisdom and discernment so that I can understand Your ways and Your Word. Amen.

- Nat Crawford (Provided by "Back To The Bible")