#578 What Would Jesus THINK?
“Rejoice always; Pray without ceasing; In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This is certainly one of many descriptions of the mind of Christ, a mindset that continually sees reasons to rejoice, continually seeks fellowship with the Father, and in every circumstance expresses gratitude to the Father for His gift and Holy intention to bless.
“I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:7 We know that Jesus was in continual communion with the Father.
What can we learn from this fact? How can we embrace his example in our own thinking?
“The result, then, of carrying "everything to God in prayer," everything pertaining to this life, that you may know His will.....you will find yourself learning to catch the reverberation of His voice in every sound of nature, in the intervals of thought, as they come in the occupations of life.” R590
There is a key for me in the thought of “learning to catch the reverberation of His voice” in every vision of nature and in the intervals of thought as they come to us during each day’s experience. What did Jesus think about when he saw a leper, a widow, a proud Pharisee, the sky, the trees, when he felt the breeze and the wind? He heard the voice of His Father in everything he experienced. He LISTENED for the voice of His Father. When he saw the needs of the leper, he saw the devastation of sin, and the Father’s plan of deliverance. When he engaged in conversation with proud religious rulers he saw the cost of pride and selfish gain and he longed for their healing of heart, willing to honestly confront them, painstakingly giving them illustrations and opportunities to see themselves, his mind and heart riveted on the holy principles of leadership established by His Father. When he walked the dusty miles he walked he saw the glory of the Father in every aspect of creation.
This leads me to a question that I find very practical: We have heard the question ‘What would Jesus do?’ What about the question What would Jesus THINK?
This is a searching question to ask as I deal with each person at work in their struggles and conflicts, when I drive to the Post Office and I see the clouds in the sky and the trees swaying in the wind. This is a searching question to ask when there is a difference of opinion at our Sunday Bible Study, when there is a misunderstanding or conflict with one of our dear Brethren. This question rivets my attention with fascination and admiration upon the example of our Precious Savior, and our heart’s desire to surrender our thinking as he did, to the power of the holy Spirit. This is a question to focus on when I worry about an outcome!
“Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, unless it is something he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19
“Rejoice always; Pray without ceasing; In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This is certainly one of many descriptions of the mind of Christ, a mindset that continually sees reasons to rejoice, continually seeks fellowship with the Father, and in every circumstance expresses gratitude to the Father for His gift and Holy intention to bless.
“I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:7 We know that Jesus was in continual communion with the Father.
What can we learn from this fact? How can we embrace his example in our own thinking?
“The result, then, of carrying "everything to God in prayer," everything pertaining to this life, that you may know His will.....you will find yourself learning to catch the reverberation of His voice in every sound of nature, in the intervals of thought, as they come in the occupations of life.” R590
There is a key for me in the thought of “learning to catch the reverberation of His voice” in every vision of nature and in the intervals of thought as they come to us during each day’s experience. What did Jesus think about when he saw a leper, a widow, a proud Pharisee, the sky, the trees, when he felt the breeze and the wind? He heard the voice of His Father in everything he experienced. He LISTENED for the voice of His Father. When he saw the needs of the leper, he saw the devastation of sin, and the Father’s plan of deliverance. When he engaged in conversation with proud religious rulers he saw the cost of pride and selfish gain and he longed for their healing of heart, willing to honestly confront them, painstakingly giving them illustrations and opportunities to see themselves, his mind and heart riveted on the holy principles of leadership established by His Father. When he walked the dusty miles he walked he saw the glory of the Father in every aspect of creation.
This leads me to a question that I find very practical: We have heard the question ‘What would Jesus do?’ What about the question What would Jesus THINK?
This is a searching question to ask as I deal with each person at work in their struggles and conflicts, when I drive to the Post Office and I see the clouds in the sky and the trees swaying in the wind. This is a searching question to ask when there is a difference of opinion at our Sunday Bible Study, when there is a misunderstanding or conflict with one of our dear Brethren. This question rivets my attention with fascination and admiration upon the example of our Precious Savior, and our heart’s desire to surrender our thinking as he did, to the power of the holy Spirit. This is a question to focus on when I worry about an outcome!
“Truly, truly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, unless it is something he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” John 5:19
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