Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

An accurate demonstration of the mind of Christ demands, by definition, that the attributes seen in Christ be transferred into our life characteristics by the power of the Spirit.

Prior to our salvation, and in times of resistance to God's will, as a believer, we will see the human nature operative. Those characteristics will be reflection of the flesh, standing on stark opposition to those of the Spirit. In attitudes, or the way we THINK. There will be the distinctives of:

Pride vs.humility
Resentment vs forgiveness
Temporal perspective vs eternal perspective
World-thinking vs Word-thinking

Proverbs 23:7 teaches that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he". So by defining our thoughts will assist us in the resultant actions and/or words.

In behaviour, or the way we WALK, there will be the distinctives of:

Impatience vs patience
Selfish vs unselfish
Unkind vs kind
Self-will vs God's will

In communication, or the way we TALK, there will be the distinctives of:

Harsh vs gentle
Critical vs complimentary
Lies vs truth
Self-exaltation vs God-glorification

May God help you to have the mind of Christ today.

(C) 1993 N.A.Collins - Copy permission limited to one personal file copy

Happy New Year!

In the last two articles, we have looked at the fear / trust dynamic through the lens of Scripture. Understanding that when we are afraid, we are instructed in Psalm 56:3 to trust in God. We saw how do do so in the T.R.U.S.T. acrostic, using the action words from Psalm 37:3-7. Today, I want to look at opposing action with which to counter fear. It is the action of faith, or confidence in the promises of God. When we look at the previously mentioned passage of Psalm 56:3, if we read on to the very next verse, we see that it is in praising God and His Word,with faith and confidence, that we displace all fear.

One of my very most frequently used passages through the years, as I went from biopsy to biopsy, has been Proverbs 3: 25a-26a. It reads: "Be not afraid of sudden fear....For the Lord shall be thy confidence." If I am to assume God's position on the fear of fear, I will need to review my basic understanding of Who He is, What He says, as well as remembering how He has demonstrated Himself faithful and strong in years past. (The Israelites built altars of memorial, so that they would not fail to remember the works that God had done in particular places at particular times). So when I struggle with the fear of being afraid in the future, I only need to remember His perfect Sovereignty, the promise of His presence and care for His children, as well as the multiple ways He has met needs my personal past. Therefore, Reflecting on the 2 Timothy 1:7 passage that we discussed in the Article on FEAR, since we have the authority of being Accepted in tne Beloved, longing for the instabilty that lack of fear allows, the "bridge" to facilitate that is that of love for the One Who has first loved us, in responsibly living in obedience to His Word. Then we will face the future with confidence in God, and fear will have been displaced, to the glory of God. May God give you a blessed new year with strong confidence in Him!

(C) 1993 N.A.Collins - copy permission limited to one personal file copy