“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
When Jesus takes ahold of one of His children, everything changes. We are new creations with new desires, outlook, motivations, and practices. Certainly the life we now live by faith, while being folded into His light and fueled by His Spirit, is imperfect and constantly being sanctified. Yet, it throbs with new blood and moves to new rhythms and reorders the mindset to regard life from a spiritual point of view. (Psalm 36:9; Galatians 2:20)
Often we frustrate ourselves because we wallow in old ways and can’t seem to change. To live victoriously with a new mindset we must avail ourselves of all that is now true, and reckon ourselves dead to sin and no longer living for self and the world. Life here on out is a series of choices to put off the old self, put on the new, and see others and our purpose with Christ’s eyes. The bent to please self has been loosened and is now free to lean toward serving and sharing the gospel with others. The propensity to indulge the flesh is free to delight wholly in the Lord. (Romans 6:1-8,12-13)
How indicative are our passions of Christ’s redeeming work and power? How has a Spirit-planted mindset refocused our hearts and energized our mission? What steps can we take, with determination and vigor, to absorb and live out the mind of Christ? (1 Corinthians 2:16)
“Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.” ~Frances Ridley Havergal (1874)
Lord, give me a heavenly mindset that translates to godly living that serves others and honors You.
As the rain and snow 