A Royal Mind

A Royal Mind

“The mind of Christ is sacrifice; it never will draw back, though death it faces, this royal mind, this spirit just and right, takes all from God’s mighty hand,” writes Aksel J. Smith in a chorus from WotL no. 365.

What kind of mind or spirit am I in? The mind of Christ is sacrifice. His mind is royal, and His spirit is just and right.

There are many things that are unfitting, and many things that are fitting for me if I have a royal mind and a spirit that is just and right.

It is not fitting for me—I, who should have a royal mind—to be constantly worried about what others think or say about me, or to be worried that I won’t receive the position or recognition I deserve. It is fitting, however, that there is rest deep within, and that I can experience His judgments in my own life. It is fitting to have an inner peace, joy, and thankfulness in the depths of my heart and in my relationships with others.

It is not fitting for me—I, who should have a royal mind and a spirit that is just and right—to go around speaking and causing division because I feel that I, or those closest to me, are being treated unfairly. It is fitting that I am able to bear things, so that I know that “’tis our gain when folks mistreat us,” and that I keep it out of my heart, as Aslaksen writes in his song. It is fitting to be a grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies. John 12:24.

Time passes, and if I have reached middle-age, there should be a development in all that is good which has an encouraging effect. My spirit should testify that I am forever finished with a whole multitude of my former sins which belong to the old man, and that I nourish myself with pure, spiritual milk. 1 Pet. 2:1-2.

Peter continues, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.” 1 Pet. 2:9.

Let us think about how we react and respond, deep within; we who have been chosen, we who are part of a royal priesthood—His own special people.

“For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers.” Titus 1:10. Let this be far removed from us. This is not fitting for His own special people.

It is fitting to praise God for those He has placed in the church so that I may be equipped for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Let us walk worthy, in our thoughts and words, of the holy calling with which we have been called. Eph. 4:1.