For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:11

As Peter wrote, we have become partakers of God’s divine nature through His precious and magnificent promises (2 Peter 1:4).  Now, we are His children, and as His children, we have the right to become ‘like God’, in the degree that He makes available.

Paul makes it clear that we are growing.  We do not begin in perfect faith, but we grow in faith, and mature, both individually and corporately, until we reach maturity.  This implies change, and this implies growth.  It is enough to be like Him.

[U]ntil we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13

But, part of this growing process is to begin to take on God’s thoughts.  Through the Spirit, we can know and have revealed to us the thoughts of God, and think them for ourselves.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

1 Corinthians 2:12

This verse, the one immediately following the opening verse, makes it clear that these are freely given by the Father. Yet, as we grow in the thoughts of God, we must allow our thinking to be transformed.

Just as we must allow the transformation of our thinking to simply believe by faith that we have been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20; Romans 7:4), and it is not a work we must do, rather simply believe, we must become transformed to the thoughts of the Lord.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Proverbs 23:7 KJV

As Proverbs 23:7 indicates, it is the internal thought processes of the heart which are the real “You”.  It does not matter if you outwardly profess these things, but it is the internal thinking that matters.  If outwardly you say to your neighbor, “Eat!  Eat!”, but inwardly you are minding the bill and the cost, and your heart is not there, what really matters is your heart.  You are the person on the inside, not the out.  As you think, that is who you really are.

And, so, Jesus said if one lusts in his heart, but does not act on that lust, he has committed adultery (Matthew 5:28).  If a man is angry on the inside, but doesn’t act on that anger, or even speak about it, he is still guilty of murder, because that is who he really is (Matthew 5:22).  As a man thinks, so is he.

So, we must change our thinking.  We must come to the unity of faith, and the maturity, and the full stature of Christ.  We must allow the Spirit to go within us, and we must ‘dig deep’, and uncover the roots of why we are not living according to our New Creation reality, who we really are (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This is sanctification, but it is about the heart, the inward man.

Consider Jesus’ words.

But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

Matthew 23:11

We recognize this verse, and accept it.  But, does it feel true to you?  Does it seem like the truth, when you look around at life, that the greatest people in the world are the low?  Or, in Matthew 18:1-4, where Jesus says the greatest is like a little child, does your heart agree?  Does it agree in the market-place, and in the church politics?  Does it agree when someone else is promoted ahead of you, or when someone pushes for their way?

Do you see meekness as a treasure, and lack of trying to get one’s own way as the correct path?

We must look at our heart, and be honest.  John 3:21 says that those who do truth come into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what they have done has been done through God.  John 3:20, on the other hand, says that those who do evil will not come into the light, lest their deeds be exposed.

There is nothing like living with a clean heart.  We are neither ashamed (for He bore that), nor are we held back.  We do not boast in our own accomplishments, but we are not afraid to let our light shine–after all, how can they give glory to the Lord, if they are not allowed to know what He has done?

The greatest is the least.  Meditate upon His words, and search it out, until it feels true.  Until you no longer need to find that highest seat at a feast, but, trusting in what He has put in you, if it is God’s will, He can elevate you from the bottom of the table, to the top.  As Jesus said, you would be honored before all.

Or, consider this statement of Jesus,

Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.

Luke 10:20

Can you let your focus be so upon Eternity, that the salvation which you possess, which is Eternal,  is of greater joy than the temporary, earthly ministry of casting out demons and working miracles?  Jesus did.  So, let your mind be changed.  Let your faith grow beyond the visible, beyond the Earthly, and onto that which is truly meaningful.

Jesus said to Mary that only one thing was needful, she sat at His feet.  He said, she had chosen the better part, and it would not be taken from her (Luke 10:42).  It wasn’t in the works, nor the efforts, although there are some, but it was in adoration, in devotion, and in listening to His voice.

And, in another, we read,

This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”

John 11:11

You see, Jesus was the Truth.  All He said was truth.  Is “falling asleep” a euphemism, or is it your reality?  Meditate upon Jesus’ Words.  Let them become your thoughts.  Allow the Spirit to remove the veils, and reveal to your heart the true condition of our dear friend Lazarus.  He was asleep.  Jesus woke Him up.

Let not your heart be troubled.  Only believe.

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

John 14:1-6