I was praying this morning to better understand how to “put on the mind of Christ.”
What is going on in the “mind of Christ?” I asked.
What does the mind of Christ think about? I wondered. And then it struck me that Jesus had no material goals or aspirations.
The human mind is so often congested, burdened, overwhelmed, heavy, contaminated and even polluted by worldly goals. Large percentages of mental time are spent on how to get that next business deal done, how to earn more money, how to pay the bills, how to improve the physical body, how to clean the shower stall with greater ease…and on and on. It all centers around finding comfort in matter, building a place of comfort in a material setting for a hopefully more comfortable material future.
Jesus had none of these worries or concerns because he had no use for life in matter. He didn’t want anything to do with it. To Jesus, life was Spirit, in God, and could never be found in a material setting, situation, circumstance or condition.
Jesus constantly drove thought and attention away from worldly ideals and goals to Spirit. Seek the treasures and riches of Spirit, he commanded.
Wow! I thought. The mind of Christ is filled with spiritual goals and aspirations only, and not bound up by temporary pursuits of comfort in matter.
I know from experience that worldly goals get in the way of spiritual progress. I had to leave the family farm, way back when, in order to free my mental time up to grow spiritually as fast as possible. I couldn’t concentrate on growing apple trees 24 hours a day and advance spiritually as rapidly as I wanted. Something had to give. And it was the worldly goal that needed to be left behind for me to advance toward the spiritual goal of understanding life in Spirit better. It was a wise decision!
So, I’m at work examining other worldly ideals and goals I might be holding today that are getting in the way of having the full mind of Christ—a mind free of worldly worries and concerns.
For instance, in my practice of spiritual healing, I have to be clear that my goal is never to heal a physical body. That’s what medical doctors strive to do. My goal is always to spiritualize thought. This is a big difference, but crucial to understand for a healing effect to be first felt in thought, which then translates into improvement in the body governed by that thought.
What about you? Are there any closely held matter-based goals getting in your way of demonstrating the mind of Christ to the fullest?
Excellent insight Evan! I agree this is probably the #1 impediment to godliness in the US (we tend to be so focused on the material). This reminded me of the sower and the seeds…
Matthew 13:22
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
As Jesus said, we become good ground when we hear, understand and apply the Word of God in our lives!
Thanks Evan for this great insight!
I found this piece very radical. Almost too difficult to understand and to put into practice. However, I believe it and,therefore, it gave a hefty dose of food for thought and will stick with me. It was extremely worthwhile. Thank you Evan.
I agree with Anonymous 1, excellent perspective on what truly to focus on everyday. Grateful!
Great insights. Thank you. I like this quote. “There is no point in trying to change the world. It is incapable of change because it is merely an effect, but there is indeed a point in changing your thoughts about the world. Here you are changing the cause. The effect will change automatically.”
I agree with Bob…your insight gave a hefty dose of food for thought and will stick with me.
My husband, partner and best friend suddenly passed away two years ago and I’m still in a transitional state. I have many, many issues that have to be dealt with in living a life without him.
I usually wake between 4-5am. I study and read until about 8:30…then I face my day! I try to apply the insights that came to me through the prayer and study time.
Incidentally Evan…thank you for your article in the May 3rd Christian Science Sentinel, “A New Crop of Blessings.” It’s been one of my study aids the last few days!
I feel that in striving to prove a sense of peace and order in my life that I am following the “mind of Christ”…and I will continue to grow in my understanding on my spiritual journey upward.
“… to be first felt in thought …”
This resonated with me. I’ve been equating feeling with the body because of a painful chronic condition going on the sixth year.
Thanks. It helped me take my attention away from the body to thought.