Editor’s Note: Today’s post is from our own HeartLife Pastor, Doug Neal. As always, Pastor Doug has come up with a thought-provoking, challenging Word – so in season. Enjoy!
On many occasions, I often remind our congregation of what a huge movie buff I have become. One of my favorite movies to reference to help illustrate a point in a message is The Matrix. In the famous “jump scene” Morpheus is training Neo to “let it all go” empowering Neo to break beyond his limited thinking and take full control of his seemingly limitless power. As Morpheus takes his leap from the top of a large skyscraper, he lands gracefully yet firmly atop another skyscraper, clearing several feet with a single leap. As Neo braces himself to follow suit, he gets a full head of steam sprinting to get himself across the busy street below and join Morpheus on the other side atop the same building. But alas, Neo’s efforts fail and he slams onto the pavement (with the help of some dazzling special effects, of course) simply because he is still living by the rules of an old system in a new world.
When Morpheus and Neo “awaken” from their training program, Neo reaches his fingers into his mouth and realizes he is bleeding. Confused, he questions Morpheus and says, “I thought it wasn’t real.” Morpheus replies, “Your mind makes it real”. Even further perplexed and concerned, Neo asks timidly, “What happens if you die in the Matrix”, to which Morpheus replies, “The body cannot live without the mind.” James 2:26 makes this same truth clear, that the body cannot live without the spirit. None of us really needed the Bible to tell us this because it is an obvious truth, as is the fact that the body cannot live without the mind. But if we understand this to be true why is it that we find so many people in the BODY of Christ trying to live their Christian lives without the MIND of Christ?
Philippians 2:5 says, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
The fruit of possessing such a mind is explained in the verses that come after; 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus made Himself of no reputation even though He was the Son of God. Yet too many times we find believers promoting themselves, their gift, their anointing, their talent, their ministry giving little glory to God when it all belongs to Him. Jesus also took the form of a bondservant, one who willingly submits themselves to lowly duties so that others will benefit. But ask someone in a church today to help teach children, sweep floors, or serve a meal and they are sure to let you know how far above such tasks they really are, whether it’s through their verbal expression or through their neglect. Jesus also humbled Himself and became obedient even to the point of death, the death on the cross so that we might have eternal life. Though Jesus instructs us to take up our cross daily, Hebrews 12:4 makes it clear that none of us suffer unto bloodshed as He did. But we crucify the lusts and the passions of our carnal mind that we might take on the mind of Christ.
Frighteningly, the closer we get to Christ’s return the more it seems the Body of Christ is losing its Mind; not our natural minds but the Mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is the mind that we should be thinking and acting with more and more everyday. It is a mind that bears thoughts higher than our natural thoughts. It is a mind that enables us to love those who hate us, bless those that curse us, give without expecting anything in return, forgive without an offered apology, honor and submit to authority, serve others with joy, and have compassion and mercy on those in need. Without the mind of Christ how can we, His body, truly live? Take the time today and ask yourself, “Am I living the life God has called me to live? Have I lost my mind, the mind of Christ? Am I really living like His Word says I should?” If what you discover is the absence of Christ-minded thinking, don’t be dismayed. We’ll just borrow a quote from another movie, The Great Debaters, and know that God is able “to help you find your righteous mind.”
Awesome word, Pastor Doug!