Mindful Love

MINDFUL LOVE Friends, there is a lot of talk about mindfulness these days, and it often misses the point. What Christ wants is for us to get out of our selves, and love others. So, this “me, me, me, ... it’s all about me” journey that the world teaches is flat out a...

​MINDFUL LOVE

Friends, there is a lot of talk about mindfulness these days, and it often misses the point. What Christ wants is for us to get out of our selves, and love others. So, this “me, me, me, … it’s all about me” journey that the world teaches is flat out a road to nowhere. You can “discover yourself” all day long, but until you get out of yourself, in selfless service to others, you will never truly gain the mind of Christ. As Christ followers, that is our duty.

Here is the transcript from this morning that led me to this topic:

Lord I don’t want to rush you, but I only have 15 minutes today. Can we have a short quiet time?

Dear child, you can spend time with me anytime. It does not have to be right now.

Lord, what I am feeling is grace.

Exactly. I have grace for you in great abundance. It is you who limits my grace with your thinking.

We were made in your image Lord. Your mind must be amazing.

Child, the part you would be most amazed with is my love. My love is the most profound part of my mind.

So, having the mind of Christ really translates to having the love of Christ. Is that right?

Yes my child.

HAVING THE MIND OF CHRIST

“For, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 NIV) This verse suggests that as believers, we have been given the mind of Christ. It implies that through the Holy Spirit, we can understand and perceive things from a spiritual perspective, aligning our thoughts and attitudes with those of Christ.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5 NIV) This verse encourages believers to adopt the same attitude and mindset that Christ demonstrated, which includes humility, selflessness, and obedience to God’s will.

SERVING OTHERS

Mark 10:45 states: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This verse captures a significant aspect of Jesus’ mission and purpose on Earth. It emphasizes that Jesus did not come to seek personal recognition or to be served by others, but rather to serve humanity. His ultimate act of service was to offer His life as a ransom, paying the price for our sins and offering salvation to all who believe in Him. This verse highlights Jesus’ selflessness, humility, and sacrificial love, serving as a model for His followers to imitate in their relationships with others.

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

Sacrificial love is a selfless and unconditional form of love that involves willingly giving up one’s own desires, needs, and even personal comfort for the well-being and benefit of others. It goes beyond mere words or feelings and requires tangible actions and choices that prioritize the needs and happiness of others above one’s own. Sacrificial love is exemplified in Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross, where He willingly gave His life for the redemption of humanity. This kind of love is characterized by compassion, empathy, and a genuine desire to serve and bless others, even when it comes at personal cost or inconvenience. It is a powerful expression of care and devotion that has the potential to transform relationships, foster unity, and bring about profound positive change in the world.

CONCLUSION

The mind of Christ encompasses a mindset centered on loving others. When we embrace the mind of Christ, we adopt His selfless and compassionate perspective, prioritizing love above all else. Jesus exemplified this love throughout His life, teaching us to love our neighbors as ourselves and even to love our enemies. His unconditional love extends grace, forgiveness, and mercy to all, regardless of their background or shortcomings. Having the mind of Christ means seeing others through His loving eyes, treating them with kindness, empathy, and respect. It involves sacrificially putting the needs of others before our own and actively seeking opportunities to serve and uplift those around us. By imitating Christ’s love, we can foster deeper connections, bring healing to broken relationships, and reflect God’s love to a hurting world.

Your aspiring (and mindful) servant,
Daniel M.
9 July 2023

POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent conversation with God blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily Conversations with Christ.