May The Mind

Today I'm listening to "May the Mind of Christ my Savior."  One of the wonderful ladies at Westminster suggested it, noting that this hymn was her favorite.  Since I just did my favorite, it's time to do someone else's favorite.  This hymn was written by Kate Wilkinson sometime prior to 1912 (It was first published, hymn and tune, in 1928).  Wilkinson had a passion for doing girls ministry and was also involved in the Keswick Deeper Life movement.  This movement, with it's annual conventions at Keswick, England, promoted the idea that Christians should lead a victorious life by consecration followed by Spirit-filling.  Essentially, not only should the Christian have conversion (true, need to believe in Christ as Savior to be a Christian), one needs to be sanctified growing in the Holy Spirit (true, we need to grow in Christ and the Spirit as we progress through life) until we experience complete sanctification on Earth (untrue, I would argue that our final sanctification is simultaneous with our glorification).  For a better understanding of the Keswick Movement, you should read Let Go and Let God by Andrew Naselli.  

Wilkinson's hymn is a good one.  It is inspired by Paul's letter to the Philippians, "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5).  If you would like to listen, Here is the classic version.  If you're looking for something a little different, this link is a recording of a former RUF Penn State student (W00T!).  The tune is composed by an acquaintance I knew while I was up there.  I remember he had a keyboard that was tuned with a soldering iron.  (I'm 99.2% sure I'm right about this.)  They have two other recordings and I am absolutely return to his channel.  Here are the lyrics:

1) May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and power controlling

All I do and say.

2) May the Word of God dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only through His power.

3)May the peace of God my Father

Rule my life in everything,

That I may be calm to comfort 

Sick and sorrowing.

4) May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

As I onward go.

5) May His beauty rest upon me,

As i seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

Seeing only Him.

As I sing this hymn, it seems like five straight benedictions.  With Kate Wilkinson's focus on sanctification and missions, this is fitting.  It's a good word, it's how grace should work throughout our weeks.  It is a part of who we are.  Faith comes out in the things we do and the stuff we say.  That's the good and bad.  People know whether or not you're a Christian.  At some point, it just comes out despite the taboo of talking about religion, politics, and barbque.  Thus, we are always representing Christ to the world.  Our minds should dwell on Christ, our hearts need to tabernacle with the Holy Spirit.  Earlier, I mentioned Philippians 2:5.  To provide context, here are verses 3-4, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others."  Christ came humiliated and redeemed His bride, the Church.  And the Father gave Christ the name above all names.  When we turn our thoughts to Him, we should be humbled and confess His glory.  The world hears us profess His name, do they see us act accordingly?  Wilkinson, humbled by God's love, reached out to the girls in her community to spread that same love to others.  We are ambassadors, representatives ... however you want to put it.  We need to be mindful of this and tune our hearts with the Lord's grace and love.