Think about what you think about.
Mind set can be a powerful thing. When you set your mind to accomplish a task, you can usually accomplish what you had set out to do. If you are only halfhearted you will not achieve much.
Then the more your mind is full of unwholesome thoughts, actions will more than likely spawn into unwholesomeness. On the other hand, virtuous thoughts would tend to produce good, and even noble, actions.
Philippians 4:8 (ESV) exhorts,
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Another element, the basis or perspective from which you set your mind set, needs to be explored. Is your mind set a redeemed one? If so, it will bring you life and peace. Look at what Romans 8:5-9 (ESV) tells us...
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
The mind set of the flesh produces "death" and is "hostile toward God". In addition to that there is no submission to God. By contrast, look at what redemption through Jesus Christ has done! The mind set on "things" of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God given at the instant of salvation) brings life and peace, and pleases and submits to God.
Even at that, the key word "submit' is of great import. Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, have His Holy Spirit yet we still need to submit our minds and hearts to Him to be in tune with Him and keep our minds in step with His and be thinking of righteous God-honoring thoughts.
The focus here is that our redemption through Jesus Christ has given us this wonderful potential to have our minds and hearts controlled by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, and to produce that God-pleasing life as we submit to Him. When we followers of Jesus Christ partake of the bread and wine on Lord's Day, remembering the impact of Jesus's death and resurrection has accomplished for us, let us thank Him with all gratitude for this cleansing and redeeming of our minds, hearts and souls.
Set your mind set on Christ.
~ERC November 2018~
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