What does the biblical phrase “the mind of Christ” mean? Most English translations of the Bible translate the Greek word “nous” as “mind.” However, if you search through the definitions of “nous” you find that it has a broader meaning than just the intellect. Here’s an example: “reason in the narrower sense, as the capacity for spiritual truth, the higher powers of the soul, the faculty of perceiving divine things, of recognizing goodness and of hating evil, the power of considering and judging soberly, calmly and impartially.”

As humans we observe life from the very narrow perspective (“nous”) of our self-interest. When humanity rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden our perspective (“nous”) shifted from God’s point of view to self-focus. Now our thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions are skewed. They distort the way we view and interpret the things in our life. For us to be transformed and aligned with God, our perspective (nous) needs to be renewed so that it becomes accurate and impartial rather than deceptive.

If we learn to see our life and our circumstances from God’s point of view and surrender our will to Him, we will be transformed. Seeing from His perspective/nous, we will begin to behold the reality of the Lamb of God working in, through, and around us to make all things work together for our good.

Our human perspective/nous is like a man watching the Macy’s Parade in New York City from deep within an alley. He only sees a few feet of the parade at a time. However, the mind (nous/perspective) of Christ is like a man in a helicopter above the city and able to view the entire parade of life at one time.

The perspective of Christ is eternal. The human perspective is temporal and very shortsighted. Much of our pain, frustration, and rebellion is the result of our human shortsightedness. When we renew our perspective by continually looking beyond our own thoughts, feelings, desires, and opinions, and begin focusing on the “author and finisher of our faith” what glory, wonder, and awe come into view!