1Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified) says, "For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ(the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart."
"We have the mind of Christ (the Messiah)." What a statement to make to the Church. In the Strong's Concordance #3563, the meaning of the word "mind," means "the intellect, i.e.mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling or will) by implying meaning, mind or understanding." It would do us all well to read the entire chapter of 1Corinthians 2 (Amplified) in order to get a fuller meaning of what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church. As the church, we have never really dare believe some of the things the Father has given to us. To say we have the mind of Christ, sounds too far out for religion to grasp.
Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), (fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs); but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude) so that you may prove (for yourselves) what is the good and acceptable and perfect (in His sight for you)."
I read a true story about a giant Kodiak bear several years ago. Germany was building a zoo for exotic animals and sent a man out to trap and capture a giant Kodiak for their zoo. They spared no expense in building a place for this bear to live. They did their best to make it as much like his own habitat as possible and it spread for many acres. They planted trees and placed a stream that flowed through the expanse. There was an abundance of lush grasses and flowers growing there. They build rock caves and surrounding walls that looked more like stone and naturally occurring structures than walls.
The trapper returned to Germany with the bear before his habitat was completed. And, because the place for the bear wasn't completed yet, it had to remain in a 24'x20' steel cage. He was only t remain there until his beautiful habitat was completed.
This giant bear had been snatched from the wild and was now confined to this small place. He began to walk from one end of the cage to the other. His big head swung from side to side as he walked the cage. He would walk ten paces one way, then turn and walk ten paces back. He did this all day and all night. He refused to eat and would only stop to drink from the water they brought him grudgingly. He paid no attention to the crowds who stopped to watch him.
They began throwing things in front of the bear, trying to distract him, but with no avail. He continued pacing until his feet were raw and bloody, leaving bloody paw prints across the cage. Finally, the bear's new home was ready and they brought his cage into the beautiful park prepared for him. When they opened the door to his cage, he raised his great head and looked out into the park. He saw the trees, the grasses, the flowers and the clear running stream created just for him. As he gazed out over the park, he lowered his head and began to walk ten paces one way, turned and walked ten paces back, swinging his giant head side to side as he walked.
Finally, the zoo keepers took a cattle prod (an electric shock device) and tried driving him from the cage. Once out of the cage and onto the grass in the park, the bear stood still, raised his great head and looked at the beauty of the park. Then, he dropped his head and began to pace ten paces one way, then turned and walked ten paces back. He did this until he wore a path through the lush grasses of the park until finally, they had to put him down and destroy him.
Even after the cage was opened and he was free in the park, he wasn't free. The cage was still in his mind. He couldn't accept liberty, even when it was there for him, because he was locked up in his mind.
I come upon Christian people who remind me of this Kodiak bear. They still pace back and forth in the same path of guilt and condemnation and apathy even after they have accepted Jesus, even after the new birth and even though their forgiveness has come. Even after their saved, they only see the things God has for them through the bars of the cages in their minds.
Only the renewing of your mind by the truth of the Word, will allow you to walk free. The door to your pain and guilt and condemnation has been unlocked and flung wide open. We can only enjoy the freedom of the new man when we let the mind of Christ instead of the old,carnal mind rule us.
Through the Holy Spirit our Teacher, Jesus our example and God as our Father, we have a beautiful place prepared for us by God Himself. Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He pre-arranged and made ready for us to live)."
The door is open, the promise is true and the life and blessings are real. All we're required to do is leave the cell we once lived in and walk in the liberty of His grace. Renew your mind by the Word of God to the truth of our covenant.
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