May 17, 2017 SETTING THE MIND
Romans 8:5-6,9: “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. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, and he does not belong to Him.”
We tend to complicate the scriptures, but actually, the message of most scriptures is quite evident, and the above scriptures or no exception. Sometimes, we try to interpret, or fit the truth of the scriptures around our life in such a way that we justify a part of our life that may not be in agreement with scripture. According to Romans 8, we are at any given moment living according to our flesh, or according to the Spirit of God. It’s either or. The simple truth is that the mind set on the flesh is death, while the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. The ‘flesh’ in this passage, refers to the part of man that is alienated from God. It is the rebellious part of man that does not want to be told what to do and it is self-centered, opposing the rule of God, and focused on doing whatever makes it feel good. The work of the flesh can be obviously some horrible action, or it can be something that looks like a good deed. For example, it is possible to do a good deed, and do so in the flesh, because that good deed makes one feel good about himself, and he takes credit for the good deed-but it’s still a work of the flesh. In contrast to the flesh, is the Spirit of God, who indwells each believer. There are many scriptures that instruct and admonish believers not to set their mind on the flesh, but to set their mind on the Spirit. The flesh is in opposition to God, and works of the flesh lead to death-not necessarily physical death-and rob us of real life and fellowship with God. The Spirit is given to guide us, to give wisdom, to empower us to live in a way that pleases our Father, and to lead us to the abundant life that God has for us as believers. Even though we may call ourselves ‘Christians,’ we still have a choice to make-the choice of setting our minds on the flesh, or on the Spirit. The desire we have for fulfillment in life is found only by setting our minds on the Spirit and living under the rule of God in our lives. We do not have to be concerned with living according to the flesh as long as our mind is set on the Spirit. Let us take to heart the words of Paul by setting our minds on the Spirit, who lives in us-if we belong to God.
Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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