Be Spiritually Minded
by Angelia Huntley
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (KJV).
Do you choose life or death? If we are Christ’s, as we claim to be, then we must be spiritually minded, putting off that old self daily by renewing our minds through His Word. You may ask the question, “How do I do that?” For there are times when we feel as Paul explained regarding his actions in Romans 7:15: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (ESV). He (Paul) then went on to say that he knows that it is not the Spirit that dwells in him, but the flesh. We all know that we cannot serve both God and man (the flesh); for the one (flesh) is enmity towards God (James 4:4; Romans 8:7).
In Romans 7, Paul states, “Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (verses 16-23, ESV).
So how do we overcome this warring that is waging within our members (minds)? Can we control what we say? Can we control our own thoughts? Can we be kind one to one another, forgiving those who trespass against us? Can we share the knowledge, the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ? If we break the law, can we repent immediately, changing our ways? Can we study God’s Word and pray diligently for understanding? Can we be patient, longsuffering, not waving in the faith that surpasses all understanding? Can we become a friend of Christ, forsaking the ways of the world? No matter what excuse we may come up with, the ultimate end response to all the above questions must be a resounding “yes” if we are to remain HIS, for HE has given us a helpmate, a measure of His spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
So, let us each “wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:13-20, KJV).
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit” (Romans 8:5, KJV). “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2, ESV). For “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word” (Psalm 119:114, KJV).
The faithful and the true
“Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” (1 John 3:24, ESV).
“Therefore brethren: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11, KJV).