Romans 8:5-8 - "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, because the mind set on the flesh
is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it
is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please
God."
The Bible has a lot to say concerning the focus of our minds. Here in Romans we are warned not to set our minds on the things of the flesh but rather on the things of the Spirit. This is contrary to our nature. It's so easy to focus on the things of the flesh because it's so real to us. We can touch and see it and physical things are a part of our everyday lives, but we can't let that become the focus of our minds. Of course there are physical needs, but in Matthew chapter 6 in the sermon on the mount Jesus spends a good amount of time instructing us to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." So, knowing that God will supply all our needs we need to focus our minds completely on Him and His will.
A faulty mindset is used in several places in the Bible to describe those who don't know God. Philippians 3:19 says concerning the enemies of the cross of Christ - "whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." And also, in Colossians 1:20 we're told that we were at one time "alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works." That's an interesting phrase. It seems like that should read "enemies in your minds by wicked thoughts." But it doesn't say that. Before the Jesus Christ became the Lord of our lives we were enemies in our minds by wicked works because the things that are in the mind come out in our works. In Philippians 2 we're told to "have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus" and then it goes on to talk about how He had the mindset of a servant and so He humbled Himself. What's in our minds is going to manifest itself in our actions.
Ephesians 4:17-24 says - "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, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, 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 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."
It's difficult to retain a heavenly mindset, and while we know that only the Lord can work this in us, it takes discipline on our part. We need to learn to discipline our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says - "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." This is what we need to learn to do. So often I try to satisfy myself with my thoughts. Rather than focusing on Christ I focus on myself and fulfilling my desires, and in my future, pursuing the things that I want rather than seeking Gods direction. And it's so easy to slip into that kind of self-fulfilling, self-seeking, fleshly mindset. But the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. So we need to set our minds on the things of the Spirit and learn what is pleasing to Him. As it says in Ephesians 5:8-10 - "for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."
Let us learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and fix our hope completely on the coming of our Lord. The coming of Christ is the only thing we have to hope in. We often look for fulfillment in a certain situation, or sometimes even in another person, but our hope isn't to be dependent on our circumstances or our earthly relationships, but in Christ alone.
1 Peter 1:13 - "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Bible has a lot to say concerning the focus of our minds. Here in Romans we are warned not to set our minds on the things of the flesh but rather on the things of the Spirit. This is contrary to our nature. It's so easy to focus on the things of the flesh because it's so real to us. We can touch and see it and physical things are a part of our everyday lives, but we can't let that become the focus of our minds. Of course there are physical needs, but in Matthew chapter 6 in the sermon on the mount Jesus spends a good amount of time instructing us to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." So, knowing that God will supply all our needs we need to focus our minds completely on Him and His will.
A faulty mindset is used in several places in the Bible to describe those who don't know God. Philippians 3:19 says concerning the enemies of the cross of Christ - "whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things." And also, in Colossians 1:20 we're told that we were at one time "alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works." That's an interesting phrase. It seems like that should read "enemies in your minds by wicked thoughts." But it doesn't say that. Before the Jesus Christ became the Lord of our lives we were enemies in our minds by wicked works because the things that are in the mind come out in our works. In Philippians 2 we're told to "have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus" and then it goes on to talk about how He had the mindset of a servant and so He humbled Himself. What's in our minds is going to manifest itself in our actions.
Ephesians 4:17-24 says - "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, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, 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 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."
It's difficult to retain a heavenly mindset, and while we know that only the Lord can work this in us, it takes discipline on our part. We need to learn to discipline our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says - "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." This is what we need to learn to do. So often I try to satisfy myself with my thoughts. Rather than focusing on Christ I focus on myself and fulfilling my desires, and in my future, pursuing the things that I want rather than seeking Gods direction. And it's so easy to slip into that kind of self-fulfilling, self-seeking, fleshly mindset. But the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. So we need to set our minds on the things of the Spirit and learn what is pleasing to Him. As it says in Ephesians 5:8-10 - "for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."
Let us learn to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and fix our hope completely on the coming of our Lord. The coming of Christ is the only thing we have to hope in. We often look for fulfillment in a certain situation, or sometimes even in another person, but our hope isn't to be dependent on our circumstances or our earthly relationships, but in Christ alone.
1 Peter 1:13 - "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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