I am reading an incredible book called The Supernatural Ways of Royalty, written by two pastors: Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton (go get a copy – it’s a must read!). This morning, what I was reading struck me as Truth and I wanted to share it. I love the imagery they use to talk about how we exist as believers of Jesus Christ, our heart and mind having been completely transformed and made new through the cross.
“A New Heart and New Mind”
“The truth of the matter is that we are good because we have received a new heart and a new mind (1 Cor 2:16). That’s right – we received a brain transplant! We actually think like God! I have heard these verses misquoted so many times: ‘Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who Love him.’ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. ‘Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:9-16).
“Paul is not saying that we don’t know what God has prepared for us; he is saying that they (the Old Testament believers) didn’t know what God had prepared for them because they were not ‘new creatures.’ But we have the mind of Christ because we are born of His Spirit. We think like God.
“We still have a free will, and we can still choose to sin. However, as saints it doesn’t come easily anymore. There is a river of God that runs through our souls and carries us towards the throne. If we don’t paddle we will end up at God’s house. We are prone to righteousness. That is why Paul said: It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).
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Isn’t it great to know that we can put our paddles down and just ride-out the tide? With all the stress and demands at work and even at home, I find incredible peace in knowing that less is needed of me and more is accomplished through Christ.
