Nougat 6

What’s it like having the mind of God? Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In receiving God’s Spirit, we have access to the mind of God. It gives opportunity for us to understand why God does what God does for us and countless others. But best of all, we have opportunity to think like God does.

For, knowing that God loves freely and unconditionally is fine; but has limited value if a) we keep the news to ourselves when an entire world is dying to know the love of Jesus and b) we withheld our demonstrable love from others.

In the past few months, so many people have died as a result of a loss of love. Whether from wars raging all around the world literally; from persons who feel un-loved and have retaliated by shooting innocent persons; or in local contexts of bullying – at school or in a domestic situation; the world suffers when those who feel unloved retaliate. After the shock dissipates; it is God’s mind that helps us understand what is wrong with the heart of the perpetrator.

And only God’s grace can influence us to love a perpetrator back to humanity. I suspect most of us would rather not have anything to do with a perpetrator; but that’s what bless them that despitefully use you means. Not a walk in the park but definitely God’s grace.

And that’s the rub – so many, even among us believers, have never had ‘tangible’ experience of God’s love. And love is always, always, always on God’s mind. So us believers who have experienced God’s grace and who have allowed ourselves to embrace God’s mind have a duty to share that mind with others.

It’s what motivated Peter and John to offer healing instead of alms to the beggar at Gate Beautiful (see Acts 3:1-11). And it’s what propelled Peter to then preach in the temple despite having no theological training verses 12-16. Now we recognize that everyone won’t accept the invitation, for having God’s mind is a threat to many. But when we operate under God’s Spirit; we count the cost and find it worthwhile. For God’s love directs us and tells us how and when and where we respond.

Until then, we pray God’s blessings upon us so when the time comes we are ready.

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May all we seek be found in Christ