Integrity- People of God

Having the mind of Christ is the new way of thinking differently for the followers of Christ. That is to think on things with the same mindset and views as Christ. Although Jesus was the Son of God and equal to God, He did not think He was being robbed when He was humbled as a servant and gave His life for others. He submitted His will to God’s while trusting in His love knowing that God would be faithful to His word. Wetoo must submit our will to God and ask in prayer that He would give us a mind to think differently and have the mind of Christ.

Jesus is God and Man. As God He is the essence of Holiness,the way to God and the truth of God. He is part of the God-Trinity and is always in agreement with respect to the will of God His Father. As Man and part of mankind, Jesus was given a will to choose and decided His direction and chose whom He would obey.  It was in His humanity that Jesus suffered as a natural course of this fallen world as all who are born into this world. 

The things Jesus suffered as a man taught Him to submit His will and problems to the will of God the Father. Jesus walked in meekness, not looking to do as He wished but as His Father had ordained. The challenges that are set before us in life will display our life choices, whether we choose the new mindset of Christ or continue in the ways of this fallen world. It is in the things we go through that we are able to be taught how to trust God and it is shown in our obedience to God’s will.  

Hebrews 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. NKJ

Philippians 2:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage. NIV

We must change from the negative ways we view ourselves, our lives and how we view others and convert from the ways been have been taught to God’s kingdom ways. We must come to know who we are in Christ; we are children and heirs in the royal family of God. Though the world has taught us that we have no worth and our lives are without merit, God has paid a great price to show our value to Him. We are told that we may be persecuted, abused and despise, the same as Christ, but we are to know who we are in the royal family of God. We are look toward eternity and the joy of bringing others into salvationthrough our obedience and walk with God. 

It is in persecution we can show the love of God to a lost world by living according to God’s kingdom ways by loving and forgiving others.  These are things that baffle and bewilder those who are in the world. Those who see us live differently in forgiveness and love are confounded because it is not thenatural way doing things in this fallen system. As we display God’s love some people may come to a saving knowledge of Christ because of the light of His life that is displayed throughus. 

Hebrews 12:2 -3 Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

For consider Him who endured such a hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discourage in your souls. NKJ

Prayer is the work and strength of our will that allows us to lay our pride, selfishness and prejudices before God in the light of His word. We can change the way we think by submitting our will to God in prayer.  The world has been operating in darkness but the light of God’s truth is revealed to us and through us by His word. We must look to reformat our method of operation and our way of thinking so that we are able to perform and walk in these truths. This is done by making a decision to submit our old thoughts and ways to God and askHim to renew our minds and give us a new heart. 

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. NKJ

Submitting is an act of changing our past thoughts andrecognizing our inability to perform or to be righteous before God. It is realizing our own worthlessness and helplessness in our fallen nature to do what is right and that we are in need of a Savior. It is through repentance, the change from doing thingsour own way, to submitting our desires and thoughts to Christ and allowing Him to align our thoughts and hearts according to His kingdom ways.

Submitting is saying to God, we cannot do this on our own, it is not in our nature to love or forgive unconditionally.  When we yield what we have been taught, our right to hate and take revenge, and offer the situation to God, it then allows Him to intervene. Our prayer of submission permits God to come into that situation, in agreement with our will and He give us the authority and power to change and perform these truths. 

Submitting to God is resisting the devil. It is a one step process when we turn to God, we are rejecting the schemes and tricks of the enemy. The mind can only process one thought at a time, though it has been said we multitask but we are only doing one thing at a time, faster.  When we focus our minds on God, wewill be filled with His truth but if we focus on the hurt, the lies and the darkness we give a place for the enemy rule. The world is fed a constant diet of hate and fear which is meant to keep people in torment but God has given us a way out. We are told to keep our minds and meditate on the things that are true, pure, lovely and praiseworthy. 

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. NKJ

Whenever a new truth is revealed to us, a battle in ourconsciousness and mind will ensue. A decision of the will, our thoughts and inclination as to who will we obey will be made. Every person will settle this fight in their own mind whether to accept or reject the truth of God’s word.  The process is a simple act of the will in our mind, whether conscious or unconscious to obey God. We can choose truth by deciding topray and ask God to create in us a clean heart and a right spirit regarding these truths. It is a simple step but is not easy in that the essence of our fallen nature fights against humility, meekness and submission to God. Pride and selfishness are the ways we have been trained to think and believe by this fallen world.

God’s ways are so far from mankind’s natural way of thinkingthat these revelations and truths most often seem too hard to obtain. Some people will give up rather than persevering andpressing through the obstacles to the end and to see how the Lord will settle the matter. 

Isaiah 55:7- 8 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. NKJ