When we read in the Bible verses that tell us to have the mind of Christ or be Godlike or be filled with the Holy Spirit there is an attribute that automatically comes to our mind. For most people the attributes that are most prevalent are loving, peaceful and sweet. The human mind likes to push to the side the fact that God is angry with the wicked every day. Or that Jesus stood up to the Pharisees and talked very plain and what most people today would call rude. But Jesus did not apologize for one word of it. When the apostles were first filled with the Holy Ghost after Jesus went back to heaven, they had a boldness that caused them to speak very plainly with people. Stephen spoke so plain he got stoned to death. I know of at least one time when the disciples asked Jesus, "Don't you know that you offended the Pharisees?"
Today, if Jesus stood in our pulpits and said what was on His heart, most Christians would think He had overstepped His bounds. They would tell Him He just couldn't talk like that around here and that he had a bad Spirit.
And yet, as Christians we ignore that side of Christ. We don't want to take on that characteristic of God. But if we are going to stand for God, yes, in the way He would have us to, we are going to have to speak up at times when it makes us uncomfortable. Sometimes it is not going to make us very popular. But doesn't God tell us to please Him and not man? He most certainly does.
You see, He is sending us out amidst wolves in sheeps clothing just like He did the disciples. Spiritually we cannot afford to be sweet talked by a wolf that looks like a sheep. We need to be in our Bibles and in prayer and on our guard. Read in Acts how the power of the Holy Spirit affected their actions.
As God breaths on us, let us be filled with all of His characteristics.
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