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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
November, 1934
was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2 :5 ). This state o f “ Christ-mindedness” is the revelation o f a Christian in his right mind. T he M ind of C hrist W e inquire: What kind o f mind was in Christ Jesus? In this epistle we find a threefold description: When our minds have passed from humility to obedi ence and from obedience to crucifixion, then we will be able to say that we are “ Christ-minded” and that we are Christians in our right minds. The Philippians were, as the opening verse o f the epistle declares, “ saints in Christ.” They were now to have minds in Christ. They were members of one body, by one Spirit, through one calling. They had one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. But the fact that believers were united in these respects was not enough for the fullest development o f their spiritual experiences. There must be among them “ one mind.” W e must consider that this oneness in the mind of Christ will bring oneness in the minds o f believers. W e stand in relation to Christ as the spokes o f a wheel stand in relation to its hub. Here is an old-fashioned wooden wagon wheel bound with an iron tire. From the hub of that wheel there extend at regular intervals long spokes o f wood which bind the rim to the hub. At the rim o f the wheel the spokes are far apart, but down at the hub they are close together; and it is always true o f any wheel that the closer the spokes are to the hub, the closer the spokes are to one another. It is just as true in Christ. He is the Center around which all believers gather; and the closer we are to Him in the oneness o f His mind, the closer we are to one another, both in our opinions and in our attitude. The final argument o f the epistle is an apostolic appeal for charitable thinking. It is a weakness common to minds not Christ-minded that it is easier to think o f the things that are not true, o f the things that are dishonest, o f . the things that are unjust, of the things that are impure, o f the things that are unlovely, and o f the things that are o f ill report. W e see the blot on a piece o f paper, but fail to notice the preponderance o f unblemished whiteness. We hear the one false note more quickly than the usual har mony. W e magnify the one detail that divides, and forget the many things that unite. All this is natural. It occurs because we “ walk as men,” whereas to think truly, hon estly, and justly is a mark o f the new life. The new think ing is proof that we are walking as new men with a new mind o f oneness and Christlikeness. A Christian in his right mind is a Christian who is in possession o f the Christ mind. And the simple secret of the Christ mind is just this : Christ in the mind. a doubt that when you go down into the valley, you can clasp His hand— that you never need to be alone nor afraid, for He will go with you on all your paths— and that His arm is strong enough to carry you. It is blessed beyond words to know these things. T he H ope of T omorrow But the best part o f all is the blessed hope o f His soon coming. How I ever lived before I grasped that wonderful truth, I do not know. How any one lives without it these trying days, I cannot imagine. Each morn It was a humble mind (vs. 6 -8 ). It was an obedient mind (v. 8 ). It was a crucified mind (v. 8 ). TWENTY YEARS OF PAIN— AND THANKFULNESS [Continued, from page 381]
ing I think, with a leap o f the heart, “ He may come today!” and each evening, “ When I awake, I may be in glory !” Each day must be lived as though it were to be my last, and there is so much to be done, to purify myself, and to set my house in order. I am on tiptoe with expectancy. There are no more gray days, for they are all touched with color— no more dark days, for the radiance o f His coming is on the horizon— no more dull days, with glory just around the corner— and no more lonely days, with His footstep coming ever nearer, and the thought that soon, soon, I shall see His blessed face, and be forever through with pain and tears! W e shall be giving thanks for the blessed fellowships o f our sojourn here. Those o f us who, like the children o f Issachar, scan eagerly the signs o f the times, have been aware for some years that a sifting process has been in progress— in society, but more particularly in the visible church. It has become increasingly apparent in very recent years and reminds one of John’s comment after our Lord’s discourse on the Bread o f Life, “ Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him,” the sad feature o f the present predicament being that not a few o f those who have really turned back are themselves quite unaware o f their defection, calling it merely a new appraisal o f values. It has tended to make us a bit sad and lonely. Between us and some who in bygone days were our dear comrades there has arisen a more or less intangible barrier. Certain subjects must be avoided if we are to maintain unbroken harmony. W e can only skim the surface with them where once we could launch out into the deeps. But where there has been such bereavement, there has been also sweet compensation. Perhaps our own little circle has become less har monious, but we have been made aware o f a blessed closer bond that is world-wide in its extent, and even, through the printed page, reaches far back into the past. W e pick up volumes couched in quaint, almost forgotten, phraseology, and chance upon illuminating passages that make us ex claim, “ Why, these are my very own people!” They have trod the same hard, uneven way we are now passing, and have gone on into the glory land; and our hearts thrill to think o f how one day we shall meet them face to face and clasp their hands and mingle our praises with theirs! How often within the past trying months some one on the other side o f the earth has suddenly, by a chance, revealing word come closer to us than many o f those whom we meet daily on the street! W e have grasped what it means to be made nigh by the blood of Christ, not only to Him who shed it, but also to all who are precious in His sight. We give thanks for fellowship in Him. G iving T hanks in F aith And we give thanks for our heavenly citizenship, the growing consciousness o f which makes for that precious quiet center to which we may at any moment withdraw, however loud the storm may howl about us. Thrones have crashed before our very eyes. “ Days are darkening, kingdoms now are shaken.” Our own loyalties are strained by the things lately sanctioned by the very government we have so dearly loved. Sometimes .we are inclined to wonder how much longer we shall be permitted what we have come to think o f as “ possessions.” Then we smile and look away expectantly for the coming o f One who is able to subject all things unto Himself, knowing full well that we have for ourselves a better possession and an abiding one. “ GIVING THANKS ALW AYS” [Continued from page 383]
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