Bill Hull writes, “Just as every human’s actions are based on what he or she thinks, one cannot conceive being like Christ without thinking like Christ.” We all want to improve our life, and become a better person. When your life is always amuck, and full of thought processes not producing good actions, then you’re not thinking like Christ; simply, your bitten by stinkin’ thinkin’.
Paul challenges our stinkin’ thinkin’ in Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” [Bold emphasis mine]
In order to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” is not by magic, nor does it come easily. In faith, having run to God’s grace you found justification. But, your life in Christ isn’t complete, following Christ requires that disciples “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.” If your goal is to think differently—you must rid yourself of stinkin’ thinkin’—then, as God’s love, mercy, and grace pours out, there must be a mind willing, desiring, and pursuing to be filled with the Spirit of a transformed, new mind. A mind that isn’t different or opposed to Christ Jesus’ way of thinking. He is our Teacher, leading us how we are to live—how we are to obediently think.
To simply be a better person does not meet the prerequisite of being completely filled by the Spirit of Christ. How you act and how you treat others is the beginning of being transformed —you and I must be willing to be “living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God”—we can’t think like and then respond to people and life as it is dished out to us. You and I must think like Christ, who opened his hand, to help the soldier drive a nail through it into the cross.
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