Devotions - Read Online
Wednesday | 25 April 2018
The knowledge that we receive from the tree of life moderates all of our responses in life when we accept that it is necessary to join the offering and sufferings of Christ. Those who are in Christ relate to the world, to the law and, indeed, to every experience that they encounter in life, only through Christ. This is the true meaning of baptism. If we receive and accept His mind, and have the knowledge that belongs to His mind in us, then all things are working together for our good. This should be our default position. However, for most of us, this is not yet the case.
We remember Paul’s exhortation to have the mind of Christ in us. Simply having a change of mind or embracing this word as some kind of religious theory will not result in our progressive perfection. The mind of Christ must be in us. If we are now relating to the world only through the mind of Christ, we will accept that we are no longer the victims of suffering. We will not demand justice for the hurts that we perceive have been committed against us; nor will we blame others for our suffering.
From day to day, our sufferings are His. They are effective for bringing change to our lives. For this to work, we must accept and believe that this is the truth. If we receive this mindset, then the law of the Spirit of life begins to set us free from the law of sin and death, and we are able to manifest the virtues of God through His grace. By this means, our experience becomes Christ’s knowledge and experience. He subjects our experience to His offering and circumcision, changing and resolving it. Our daily experience of His sufferings are His changing and life-giving work within our lives, and we are therefore being changed.
Further Study:
Philippians 2
Daily Proverb:
Proverbs 25
References:
Rom 8:2, 28
(2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
1Pe 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
Rom 15:5
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus.
Isa 53:11
He shall see the labour of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.