The Mind of Christ

"LET this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." "Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." It is often said that to be a Christian is to be Christ-like. In considering the life of Christ we readily discover that his deeds and words were the natural products of certain principles which dwelt in his heart and to which he steadily adhered. No one can doubt that his life was the genuine representation of those principles.

Had he attempted to act the part he did while his secret motives and principles were not in harmony with a life of unselfish and pure devotion, he would have made no better record than many do who simply profess religion; he would have failed. It is a fact which all acknowledge that sooner or later a man's life and its results will be seen to correspond with the principles which he cherishes in his heart.

To become a Christian, then, it is first necessary that the heart, the source of our words, actions, and influence, shall contain the same motives and principles which formed the character of Christ. Thus shall our lives be made to correspond with his.

The most prominent motive that appears in the life of Christ was that of a self-sacrificing devotion to the will of the Father, expressed in John 6:38, and many other places: "I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." This object was ever before him, and controlled every other consideration. It is the same principle so beautifully ascribed to Christ by the prophet in the fortieth psalm: "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart," and to which he himself gives utterance in these words: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." In view of this, is it possible that any one can have the spirit and mind of Christ while opposing the law and will of God, found in the ten commandments, which Jesus honored? Evidently it cannot be so.

Another prominent characteristic of the life and mind of Christ we have in his own words, "I am meek and lowly in heart." This precious jewel adorns his life with a heavenly radiance. It is not desirable in the eyes of man, but in the sight of God it is of great price. It renders easy the burden of life. It dispels our heartaches, jealousy, and envy. Its manifestation is a sign of true greatness of spirit, though to pride it seems ignoble. If we look for the brightest object in the history of this world, that act which more than all others reflects true greatness of soul, we shall not find it in the annals of the great, nor the triumphs of human ambition, but we behold it in the closing scene of the Saviour's life. Having passed through the agony of the garden, the torture and shame of his trial, and meekly endured all the reproach and shame of that dreadful night, condemned without cause, he was led away to death, even the death of the cross. His enemies forgot his love and virtue, his life of sacrifice and toil in their behalf, gloated in their triumph over their inoffensive victim, mocked his agony, and reviled his name. Can even divine compassion still endure? Unmindful of himself the Redeemer prays for forgiveness upon them. What glory beams from that scene! Who can measure the greatness of such a spirit? It is the manifestation of this spirit that glorifies God and blesses the world. This is an identifying characteristic of every true Christian. But how can we follow such an example unless the heart be right? We cannot, "because the carnal [natural] mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Nor can the unregenerate heart bear "the fruits of the spirit."

The object of the sacred truths of God's word is not attained when men yield to them nominal assent or an outward obedience. Their sanctifying effect is not felt by the unregenerate in heart. These truths point out the road to holiness, and these graces adorn only the lives of those whose hearts are imbued by the earnest, sincere spirit of the Master.

"O arm me with the mind,

Meek Lamb, that was in thee."