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1 Corinthians 2:16, For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

“It wasn’t me!” This is the battle cry response to those who are having to establish the responsibility of a circumstance when talking to the guilty and the innocent. It starts at childhood, usually as soon as we determine that establishing someone else as guilty can set us free from punishment… Whether this is an invitation to dishonesty is contingent on the character of the one being questioned. Every kid knows this whether they can state it this way or not. The truth for some is that honesty that has a cost might be too expensive so why not let someone else bear the cost? Godly people are not allowed this sinful luxury.

The first step in becoming the spiritual person that God expects us to is to accept the responsibility I have for my own thoughts and consequent actions. Just as someone cannot force my actions, one cannot determine my thoughts on any matter. The way we achieve the mind of Christ is to first of all accept it as an objective. I have to decide that this is my chosen path. I’m not here because I’ve been coerced or forced. I am fully engaged and committed to the wisdom of the one who can save us all.

Next, I have to take steps in accordance with my acknowledgment of that accepted wisdom. (Genesis 6:3-5; John 14:24) The only evidence of our faith and our love is the active obedience we exhibit in our lives. Too many people have allowed hypocrisy and weak understanding to send them down a deadly path in life. Righteousness is attributed by God to those who are truly faithful, not simply those who are claiming to be faithful. If one is not willing to live by the faith we claim, can we really claim to have faith?

A Christ-like mindset has to become our standard for safety and satisfaction and sanctification in life. We must learn to accept God’s answers to our lives and live accordingly. If we can’t be content with God here, what makes us believe we would be content when it’s time to go home to heaven? Man has a mind and a will of his own. We can make decisions of our own, but the ramifications of those decisions also belong to us.

What makes us accountable to God is the truth that we are completely responsible for our choices. Having chosen Christ by obeying the Gospel call has changed us as people at the most important area of our lives which is at our soul. The beautiful truth is also that we, having become God’s people, are now able to live out our lives in the forgiven light of our Savior. We have the blessing of access to God’s forgiveness and a newly assigned mission. We are free from the ravages and wages of sin. God is so good to us!

This obedient response, which leads to our graceful salvation, grants us the blessing of a new mindset. A new framework in which we can see our past, present and future. This is a mind which can see the spiritual world as well as the physical. This “Word-guided,” “God-Inspired,” visionary exercise is the way we determine truth from deceit in this dark world. We can learn to forgive our enemies, love our neighbors, and live HOLY lives.

May we all find ourselves living in the shadow of God’s wonderful love and soul saving grace.

Romans 12:1-2, Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.