What’s On Your Mind? Part Two

As we continue our journal from last week on: “What’s On Your Mind?” let’s look at some solutions. So, what should be on your mind? We should start by having the mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5, 7 says: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (“Let” means you have to allow or receive this mind, it’s not automatic!) But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: … He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Do you strive to be a humble person? Do you control your mind and thoughts or do you choose to allow the Word of God to dominate your will.  Proverbs 3:6 says: “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15:31b: “I die daily.”  To have the mind of Christ, we must die daily to this carnal mind and choose to yield to the Spirit.

Apostle Paul also tells us of the frustration of trying to control our minds from thinking or doing evil outside of the Spirit. He says in Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” He goes on to say; the good things I desire to do I don’t do them, but the bad things that I don’t want to do I find myself doing them. 

Romans 7:24 says: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”  The answer is v. 25 “Jesus Christ our Lord can!” What is your mind on? Philippians 4:8 tells us what should be on our minds: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (We must have all these things on our mind and not just one of them!) Holding grudges and plotting vengeance is not the mind of Christ so it should not be on your mind!

Galatians 5:16–18 tells us why it is so important to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh of our minds. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh … and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” When we compare the works of the flesh to the fruit of the Spirit, we need to ask ourselves which one dominates our minds?

Galatians 5:19-21 says: “Now the works of the flesh are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: …” We must be careful not to offend in any of these works of the flesh.  James 2:10 says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Note: It’s called fruit of the Spirit and not fruit(s) of the Spirit. All of these must be active in your life to make up the “fruit of the Spirit.”

King David is a good example of what it means to walk in the Spirit. King Saul was trying to kill David out of spite and jealousy, but when David had the opportunity to kill Saul and save his own life he said in I Samuel 24:6: “And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” Do you honor God’s anointed?

Also, Abraham could have killed his nephew Lot and his servants when they fought against his servants. But, instead Abraham walked in the Spirit by allowing Lot to choose which part of the land he desired first and Abraham would take what was left. But, because Abraham had a humble mind to do what was right, God exalted him right after Lot left; and said I have blessed your seed and have given you all the land of Canaan. (Genesis 13:14-16.) What’s on your mind? If it’s not edifying God it won’t edify you. So, think on these things!