By Rufus R. Clifford III
The Apostle Paul in Romans 8:6 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” A Christian is to be spiritually minded which means their mindset is what it ought to be! Paul again states this concerning our mindset, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). Christ had the proper mindset! Over in Colossians 3:2 we are told: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” In order to set my affection, I must have the proper mindset and this simply means that I’m keeping God, people, and things of this world in their proper place in my mind!
Why Is This So Important?
In the Bible the words “heart” and “mind” are often used interchangeably and involve a person’s intellect, volition, and emotions — it’s much more than just our physical muscle known as the heart. Jesus stressed the importance of having our hearts (minds, intellects, emotions) in the proper place when he said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21). So according to Jesus, where my mindset is will determine where my treasure is which will in turn affect the way I live in this world. Paul stated the same thing when he told us to set our affections on things above! Paul was in essence reminding the Colossians and all who read his letter today that one’s mindset must be in the right place.
This Answers Many Questions
- Why is it folks will dress up when going to parties, or funerals, or weddings and yet give little regard to their appearance when coming to church? THEIR MINDSET! They have unknowingly placed parties, funerals, and weddings on a higher level in their minds than they have given to almighty God!
- Why is that children today are taught to say, “Yes sir” and “No sir” and “Yes ma’am” and “No ma’am” to their elders and yet speak of God in terms of “you,” “the man upstairs,” or “him”? THEIR MINDSET! They have placed giving respect and honor to men of this world on a higher level in their minds than they have given to almighty God!
- Why is it folks can’t make it to service but one time a week and yet they can attend a ball game and sit and watch a double header, or not miss one single meeting at school or work or even in some cases attend these functions sick? THEIR MINDSET! They have given things of this world a higher position of importance than they have given to almighty God!
- Why is it that folks respect the laws of this land and readily accept their responsibility to obey them and yet try to disprove the law of God and show little regard for God’s authority today? THEIR MINDSET! They have brought God down to man’s level and in their minds they no longer respect and honor and give God the important position that he deserves!
One’s mindset will determine how he dresses, how he speaks, how he lives day to day, and, more importantly, where God stands in relationship to himself. For you see until I have placed God first and foremost in my mind as being the awesome supreme being that he truly is my respect and regard for what his will is will not be what it ought to be! In other words it could be said that my mindset is not right.
Where Is Your Mindset?
Can it be said that you are spiritually minded? Has your thinking become like your Savior’s? If the answer is yes then that means your affections are on things above and others will notice this because your dress, your speech, your very attitude towards God’s holy word will reflect these very things.
Where Is Your Mindset Today?
Get it right,
Put it right,
And keep it right!
Your mindset determines everything!
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