One particularly, is reconsidering what foods we eat and how they are processed. To highlight this concern, we hear the phrase, “you are what you eat.” That may have some validity in the physical realm; but do we ever pause to consider that if the physical part of our lives is important, though one’s life span is limited, how much greater should be our attention to the spiritual part of life which is eternal. Our thinking needs to be altered so that which is spiritual is given priority over the physical. The Scriptures mandate that Christians are to have their minds renovated by the Word of God. Paul in addressing the Romans said --
...”And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Rom 12:2 NASB)
While in prison, Paul wrote to the Philippian churches and urged the believers to develop a mind set that is patterned after our Lord. He writes --
… “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”(Philp 2:5 KJV)
The question must be asked as to what was the thinking of Christ? Scripture reveals it to us. In his humanity, Jesus Christ was, by his choice, led of the Spirit. Therefore, the Spirit was God was able to produce His fruit in the life of Jesus. That fruit could not be produced by human effort; it was the work of God the Holy Spirit. Paul told the Galatians that --
… “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”(Gal 5:22-23 NASB)
Perfect in his humanity, our Lord was able to be that example for us of having a renewed mind. When confronted by those who opposed him, He spoke Truth in love and grace. He instructed --
… “Love your enemies , bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”(Matt 5:44 KJV)
It is not surprising that Jesus would pray --
… “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do?”(Luke 23:34 KJV)
Evil appeared to have the upper hand at the Cross, using mankind to carry out Satan’s plan to prevent --
… “the seed of the woman from crushing the serpent’s head.”(Gen 3:15)
However, in the Divine plan, evil men would be the instrument used by God to carry out the crucifixion. Because Jesus understood the Father’s plan, He could truly say “they know not what they do.” Satan and evil men would be mistaken in their perception and assessment concerning the crucifixion. The Cross was not a defeat; rather it was the greatest victory in all history for it reconciled man back to God and made eternal life possible to all who believe in Christ as their Savior. In the Hebrew Scriptures we read of Joseph, the prime minister of Egypt. He expressed a thinking that was like unto Christ’s when he talked with his brothers who had sold him into slavery. They had carefully perpetrated his demise, but had left God out of the equation –
… “but God who is rich in mercy.”(Eph 2:4)
Because Joseph possessed Divine viewpoint from a renovated mind, he could say --
… “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”(Gen 50:20 KJV)
May each of us allow God’s Word to give us a renewed mind like unto that of Christ’s.