Philippians 3:17-20 New International Version
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Mind Matters
It is day 10 of our journey toward consecration and today we draw attention to our minds. I remember a slogan from a few years ago that said a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Nothing could be more true. The mind is like a super computer that can lead to success or failure, happiness or hatefulness, peace or pain. Our minds are in the drivers seat of how we engage life and its myriad of subtleties. You are choosing to engage your mind right now as you read this and determine its value moving forward. Understanding the value of our minds on our life’s outcomes, it is critical to pause and assess what we are taking in. Like the body the mind feeds on input. If we eat junk we function less efficiently. If we consume mental junk we limp through a life we could be leaping through.
Our text from Philippians 3 highlights the effect of having a mind that is focused on the temporary and not the eternal. Paul speaks of those who are enemies of the cross because their focus is on earthly things. Paul encourages the believers at Philippi to focus their attention on those who are pressing toward the goal to win the prize for which GOD has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. In short focus attention on those committed to Christ-like behaviors. The intention to execute in our lives is to nurture our minds in a way that is grounded in our awareness of our citizenship in heaven. The believer is working to live out the model prayer where Jesus teaches us to pray “THY Kingdom come THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Adopting a kingdom mindset gives us comfort in crisis, courage in conflict, and compassion in confusion. We know that this world is not our final home and YHWH is in charge of our outcomes.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Whats on your mind? I encourage you to set your mind on things above and not below. Trust that through these 40 days your mind will be more focused on your spiritual journey and your outcomes will be heavenly.
Points to Ponder: How and what are you feeding your mind? How is that working out for you? What do you intend to do moving forward that will build your mindset?
40 Days of Lenten Meditations 