Renewed to Rule: Living with the Mind of Christ

Vince Mack
12 minutes ago
3 min read

We weren’t born saved. Many of us spent years living life on our own terms, with no real understanding of who God was or why Jesus even mattered. Then came the encounter—maybe quiet, maybe earth-shattering—but real enough that we surrendered. As it was always destined by our Heavenly Father, we made Christ Lord over our lives. And with that surrender came new life.

But let’s be honest. When we made this eternal choice, our hearts weren’t clean. Our minds weren’t clear. And our souls were tangled up in things like trauma, deception, ego, and sin. Christ didn’t walk in and do a heavenly housecleaning while we kicked our feet up. No, we were charged to do something that is vital for every believer: renew our minds.

Ephesians 4:22–23 (NLT) keeps it real and plain: “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” God didn’t save us so we could coast. He saved us so we could transform—starting with how we think.

Spiritual Beings, Earthly Realities

We are spiritual beings having an earthly experience. That means we can’t walk this life out using human reasoning alone. Our authority doesn’t come from our emotions, our culture, or our instincts. Our authority comes from the Word of God.

We often say, “It’s not about perfection.” But Hebrews 10:14 reminds us that we are being perfected—not by works, but through Christ. Ephesians 4:24 (NLT) calls us to “put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” This isn’t about instant flawlessness. It’s about daily pursuit.

Paul doesn’t leave it vague—he calls us to action. Stop lying. Speak truth. Why? Because we’re members of one body. Growth in Christ doesn’t happen in isolation; it calls us into alignment with our powerful Lord—our thoughts, our words, and our hearts reflecting His truth.

We have the recognize the profound awesomeness of our call. Being made new in Christ isn’t a vibe, as some might call it. It’s a process of surrender, obedience, and daily transformation.

You can be sure of this one truth: sin always demands a payment. And when we continue entertaining the old man, something has to die. Sometimes it’s our peace. Sometimes our relationships. Sometimes the thing we desire most. We don’t have to live like that. We are made free through Jesus Christ, and as Galatians 5:1 tells us, Christ broke the chains and opened the gate—don’t let anything or anyone pull you back into bondage.

Loving God With Everything We've Got

Jesus made it plain when asked about the greatest commandment. In Mark 12:30–31 (NLT), He said: “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Nothing outranks that.

This isn’t some New Testament remix either. Deuteronomy 6:5–6 (NLT) told Israel the same: “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.” From Genesis to Revelation, God’s been calling us to wholehearted devotion.

Mind Shift or Missed Destiny

You cannot fulfill your calling with your old mindset. You can’t walk in purpose while clinging to personal preferences. The mind of Christ is a mind of obedience, humility, love, discipline, discernment—and yes, power. Romans 12:2 (NLT) says it best: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” So today, don’t just believe. Don’t just pray. Don’t just show up on Sunday. Put on the mind of Christ—every single day. ■