The most apt example of the transfiguration through Christ in the Bible is that of St. Paul. Once upon a time, he was a violent man, zealous of his religion and a persecutor of Christian believers. But Jesus had transfigured Saul. So St. Paul pleads with us to be followers of him, even as he also is of Christ. Paul was clearly convinced that only the Grace of God transfigured him. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1.Corinth 15:10) God never show any partiality. If He transfigured the Apostle, He will transfigure us also.

If God transfigures us, in whose resemblance He will transfigure us? When we are turned to Christ a veil of our heart is removed. Then we are able to perceive the word of God very clearly. So St. Paul wrote Corinthians: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2.Corinth 3:18) Lord transforms to imitate His own life. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, new things have come.

Very interestingly, St. Paul explains the Ephesians what old is and what new is and what happens when the new replaces the old. “In reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) St. John also teaches us the same idea: The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1.John 2:6) Before our life or our actions are transfigured we should acquire the courage and transfiguration of our mind.

We are configured as per the mould of our mind. St. Paul told to the Romans: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) He wrote to Corinthians also the same theme: We have the mind of Christ. (1.Corinth 2:16) In the Old Testament Solomon wrote: For as he thinks within himself, so he is. (Proverb 23:7) So if we intend to be like Christ, we become like Christ. A believer should have the mind of Christ.

St. Paul was telling to the fellow Christian believers of established Churches, to keep the mind of Christ. This is because Paul knew confidently that a believer in Christ could become with the mind of Christ by a gradual process. We have vivid kind of thoughts in our mind. In order to study what is the mind of God, I feel it is better to study what is not the mind of Christ. Let us think six various things which Christ will not accept to His mind. While we study this, I request to analyze our own mind and thoughts in the witness of Lord. There are certain thought plans which goes through our mind which does not conform with mind of Christ. I would like to array six such things for our thoughts here. Let us know where we stand in relation with God?

1. Sinful thoughts:
   It is quite human that sinful thoughts come to our mind. We should put our great efforts to overcome the sinful thoughts as it originates from the adversary. When we allow the sinful thoughts to hatch in our mind we start to do sins. There is a saying that we cannot avoid birds to fly over our head, but it should be prevented for bird not to make a nest on our head. Many Christians are cautious about their deeds and talks as they are seen and heard by others. However they do not care for their thoughts, as they are invisible to others. But God sees our mind and He discerns our thoughts. So we should avoid the sinful thoughts. Jeremiah told to Jerusalem: “Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem, That you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts Lodge within you?” (Jeremiah 4:14) When we administer sinful thoughts it caters contamination of spirit living in us. St. Paul teaches us how to maintain our mind and thoughts: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:14) If sinful forethoughts are encouraged, it turns to thoughts and further it becomes preoccupation, to occupation and eventually to possession.

2. Anxious Thoughts:
   St. Paul told to the Philippians: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippi 4:6-7) God does not want us to be anxious. God commands us to put all our anxieties in Him. Trusting in the almighty God and being anxious cannot go together. Please listen: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Philippi 4:8) So anxious thoughts of mind are not conforming to the mind of Christ.

3. Discouraging Thoughts:
   Godly thoughts are always encouraging. Actions of Holy Spirit are rejuvenating. Holy Spirit is our counselor and comforter. In the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus had promised us to give the Comforter to abide with us forever. This promise is never changing. Psalmist says: 'why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.' (Psalms 42:5) If we delight in the Lord and continuously mediate in Him, there is no chance for us to get discouraged. As parents, do we like that our children live in anxiety? Never. If the imperfect man want their children to be not anxious, how much more our heavenly father would need His children not to be discouraged. The word of God also encourages us. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4) So discouraging thoughts are not conforming to the mind of God.

4. Futile Thoughts:
   "So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind' (Ephesians 4:17) What are the futile thoughts? Futile thoughts are useless thoughts. Many of our past and future thoughts are futile for the present time. Past is bygone. Future is not ours. We need not think about our repented past as God had forgiven and forgotten our past. We should be careful for the present.

5. Bitter unforgiving Thoughts:
   This was never a part of the mind of Jesus. We are called to love even our enemies. Love does not keep the record of the past misdeeds. Blood of Christ had relieved and forgiven us. Our sins are forgiven and forgotten unconditionally. Look at the words of Jeremiah to know how God forgive us: 'For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.' (Jeremiah 31:34) If our Lord is not forgiving and forgetting what would have been our state? If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Psalmist says: 'If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?' (Psalms 130:3)

6. Worldly Thoughts:
   The things in this world tempt us all. Love of wealth, Love of Lust, Love of power, all these are alluring to human mind. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1.John 2:16) Our thoughts should not be worldly, but it should be heavenly. St. Paul exhorts us: If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2)

What are the remedies and controls for the thoughts not conforming to the mind of Jesus? St. Paul told; Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. So we are equipped with many spiritual weapons. God had given us authority over our thoughts. We are given freedom to choose bodily or Godly thoughts. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. To whom we should give our power of attorney?

What were the thoughts of Jesus? Jesus told that to do the wish of His father is His food. We can make out that Jesus was continuously thinking to do the will of His Father. Jesus had done everything that His Father had done. Jesus answered and said to them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he see the Father do: for what things so ever He do, these also do the Son likewise.” Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." (John 5:19)

What were the teachings of Jesus? His contemporary people wondered; How this uneducated man know philosophy? Jesus replied to them. My teachings are not of my own. It is that of my sender. The ministry and teaching of Jesus was in continuous fellowship with His Father.

When we have an intense relationship with Lord, when we let Him to write the scriptures on the wall of our heart, when our mind and heart are full of scriptures, our mind will be cleansed. Holy Scripture sanctifies our mind and heart.

How Apostle Paul had the mind of Christ? Eye had not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. God revealed them through the spirit of God. Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. Who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man in him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit of God so that we may know things freely given to us by God. We are not speaking the words taught by human wisdom but those taught by the Spirit combined with Spiritual words. The worldly man does not accept the things of spirit of God, as they are foolishness to them. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. But the spiritual man discerns everything yet he himself not appraised by any one. Old Testament asks: Who has known the mind of Lord? But we have the mind of Christ.

What a fortunate experience is this? All the saints and prophets of Old Testament eagerly desired and waited to the incarnation of the Word of God but they could not witness it. God had planned and prepared to give His Word before the face of all people. This Word is the one, which light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of the people Israel. But now the same Word of God is given to us in the written form. Is it not a great privilege and fortune?

Living by the word, living by the spirit, our mind will be cleansed and configured. When we do away with the above six abominable thoughts our mind will be replaced with the word of God. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)