To Be Like Jesus, Is To Think Like Jesus

*To Be Like Jesus Is To Think Like Jesus* By: James Cook

So often many have thought by reading scripture that they are on their way to being the type of Christian Jesus really wants us to be. Speaking with those who proclaim they have read the Bible from cover to cover, yet they keep relapsing back into their old ways is a sign that they haven't really adopted the mindset of Christ. Obtaining His mindset is partly through learning scripture, but this in its self is only information about Him. Oh you mean this don't make me a Christian? That's right, no more than reading a book about becoming the Prime Minister will make you a Prime Minister.
Gaining wisdom is scriptural, but what happens when we try to absorb it all, speak it like a well oiled theologian, yet for some reason we stay immature in our thinking? Much of our maturity comes from acting on what is stated in the Bible, because to mature takes action that will compliment our Bible Intake. Furthermore, being a Christian isn't based on what we know, but based on what we do with what we do learn after accepting Christ into our lives. It is in this process where others will be able to see the Holy Spirit at work within us, and when they see the changes in our lives they will be more likely be open to hear about what Jesus is all about.
Romans 8:5 (NIV)5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. This scripture informs us that we will live according to how we think, and how we act. The Apostle Paul is dividing people up into two groups here, those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful desires, and those who decide to follow the Holy Spirit. Many more would still be in the first group here if Jesus never gave us a way out. Regardless, it is in our decision making that we choose to remain either as infants, or to mature into His likeness. This maturity never happens in one day, but on a daily basis we must consciously choose if we want God as the centre of our lives.
The apostle Paul wrote, "To be perfectly frank, I'm getting exasperated with your infantile thinking. How long before you grow up and use your head:-your adult head? It's all right to have a childlike unfamiliarity with sin, where a simple no is all that's needed there. But there's far more to saying yes to something. Only mature and well exercised intelligence can save you from falling into gullibility" (1 Corinthians 14:20 MSG). As I read this, it took me back a number of years when I was cruel in my witness, until I learnt that all my knowledge wasn't being excercised lovingly. It was only being excercised through flapping my lips while preaching to others in a condemning way.
Sadly, I didn't hear much of what I was preaching because I was too busy making judgements on all these other sinners. Until I started to change my holier than thou attitude I had very little to offer anyone, other than telling others what not to do in reaching others for Christ. I was educating others on all the don'ts rather than the do's. However, today I am so thankful that God is a God of second chances, because I was in sin as much as the ones I was passing judgement on. Scripturally, judging others is just as much a sin as it is for those who haven't received Christ yet. Matthew 7:2 (NIV)"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you". According to this text I would of been judged with extensive measure.
Many believe that spiritual maturity is based on how much doctrine and biblical knowledge they have, but this only makes them a top heavy Christian. Top heavy Christians are those who have a hard time keeping their bobbing heads upright during the service, as it is over weight from all the knowledge, or if they can hold it upright they are hesitant to even blink in case it throws it out of balance. However, there is the odd time their head will fall sideways onto their spouses shoulder, only to give the perception they support each other. All I can say is that being single and trying to fulfill my intellectual calling a couple times, my head fell over on a strange brother's shoulder, while I was in deep meditation, causing him to really shrug that one shoulder to say no way brother. Another time, it fell on a sister's shoulder who was totally against the wholesome mindset of, "Lean On Me". Her self-righteous elbow lacked understanding upon contact into my rib cage, and it was more than singing, "Oh She Touched Me, Oh she touched me, and oh the pain that floods my soul, something happened and now I know, she touched me, and made me crawl".
The Christian life is far more than it's rules and regulations; it includes conduct and character. Our character must be backed up with Christlike thinking, and this only comes to the forefront by trying to put into practice the knowledge we gain in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the living example for us to follow. His love for the people was and is totally undefineable, He never pushed His way to the front of the crowds to sound impressive, nor was He the sweet talker to gain attention for a promotion. He was so unique just because He was, and still is, Jesus, the only Son of God.
Overcoming our immature thinking will only be conquerored by putting others before ourselves. Philippians 2:3,4 'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others'. Therefore, as we begin to mature, our infant thinking will gradually be left behind. As a result, we will move away from our selfishness, self-centreness, and self-seeking ideas, and think beyond ourselves.
Finally, this may appear to be a tall order for those who have lived a selfish life, but we have access to the Holy Spirit who teaches us how to change our self-centred thoughts to better ourselves, and to expose the Kingdom of God to those in search of wholeness. 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)12'We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us'. Have you received your gift from God to mend your ways? If you haven't, time has presented you with the opportunity to take the step into being a new creature in Christ, that will help you start thinking Christlike. At this point, and if you are sincere, your focus will start to change. In each new day, you can adopt a new thought in learning how Jesus thought. It is through taking one thought after another that you will grow into mature thinking and model to others that, "To Be Like Jesus, Is To Think Like Jesus".
God Bless.