Would you like to think like Christ?
Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
Philippians 2:5 AMP
http://bible.com/8/php.2.5.AMP
We have two options, we can either want to think like Christ or we can want to think like the world. The Bible calls that either remaining conformed to this world – or being renewed and reconciled to be like Christ.
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
Romans 12:2 AMP
http://bible.com/8/rom.12.2.AMP
Don’t we know that the world has a message to sell us – in its advertisements, it’s conversation, and it’s philosophy? This carnal world is engaged in an ugly, gigantic practice of dumping toxic waste into our lives. Billy Graham explains it as, “The world’s sewage system threatens to contaminate the stream of Christian thought.”
Yes, there is a din – a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise – of this world and its ways and its influences. And this din wishes to indoctrinate us into its ways through constant repetition and practice, like a hammer banging away at our minds – so that we might overlook engaging our heart and the Holy Spirit of Christ who lives in us. Distraction and redirection.
How much time do we spend being influenced by the messages that the world is trying to sell us on television or surfing the Internet? Is God getting a share of our attention? Is the world shaping our mind – or is Christ?
This isn’t a bad question to ask ourselves. It isn’t legalism and it isn’t works. We haven’t said the first thing about the letter of the law or requiring outward, visible works that someone might boast about. No, this is about who we are choosing to serve, since we can have only one master.
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).
Matthew 6:24 AMP
http://bible.com/8/mat.6.24.AMP
And having a divided mind, divided loyalties is a dangerous place to be:
Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].
James 1:6-8 AMP
http://bible.com/8/jas.1.6-8.AMP
Yes, it is the question of desire. Do we really wish to ascend to be more like Christ? Do we talk want to humble ourselves by walking in His footsteps? Are we ready to bear the cross and burdens of others and live walking in His ways, in the Spirit of our holy and righteous and just and merciful God? Or are we satisfied participating in the constant hammering of the ways of the lost – consuming worldly living and consuming religious practice, but not communing with Christ?
Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully. [Matt. 5:8.] He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation [description] of those who seek Him [who inquire of and for Him and of necessity require Him], who seek Your face, [O God of] Jacob. Selah [pause, and think of that]! [Ps. 42:1.] Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Psalm 24:3-7 AMP
http://bible.com/8/psa.24.3-7.AMP
Have we heard His voice calling us?
I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me–
John 10:14 AMP
http://bible.com/8/jhn.10.14.AMP
The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.
John 10:27-30 AMP
http://bible.com/8/jhn.10.27-30.AMP
What are we waiting for? Are we awake and aware, standing in His light, eagerly waiting for His return? Or are we unconscious, asleep, and unprepared, hiding in the darkness, waiting for the door to be shut?
Thus He showed me, and behold, the Lord stood upon a wall with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. [II Kings 21:13; Isa. 34:11.] And the Lord said to me, Amos, what do you see? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the Lord, Behold, I am setting a plumb line as a standard in the midst of My people Israel. I will not pass by and spare them any more [the door of mercy is shut].
Amos 7:7-8 AMP
http://bible.com/8/amo.7.7-8.AMP
For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins [no further offering to which to look forward]. [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God]. [Isa. 26:11.] Any person who has violated and [thus] rejected and set at naught the Law of Moses is put to death without pity or mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. [Deut. 17:2-6.] How much worse (sterner and heavier) punishment do you suppose he will be judged to deserve who has spurned and [thus] trampled underfoot the Son of God, and who has considered the covenant blood by which he was consecrated common and unhallowed, thus profaning it and insulting and outraging the [Holy] Spirit [Who imparts] grace (the unmerited favor and blessing of God)? [Exod. 24:8.]
Hebrews 10:26-29 AMP
http://bible.com/8/heb.10.26-29.AMP
THEN THE kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent). For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them; But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps. While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him! Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves. But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you]. Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come.
Matthew 25:1-13 AMP
http://bible.com/8/mat.25.1-13.AMP
Harold J. Ballinger 