Set Your Minds on Things Above

"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit, For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:5-6).

Hey Gang:  I love the little words of the Bible.  I tend to think of them as trigger words- when one appears, we need to take heed that a very important truth will follow.  Bob Mumford, an old country preacher, often said, "When you come to a ‘therefore’, you best stick around until you find what is it "there for"!

In our work with families, the principles we wanted to get firmly implanted in the families hearts and minds were two fold: The Seed Planting principle (Don't be fooled, you will reap what you sow), and Paul's change process found in Colossians three.

In step one of Paul's four step process to a renewed mind he tells us we must "Die (to self) and our life hidden with Christ in God" (vs. 3).  Second, we must "put off" anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices." (vs. 8-9)

How many know that when you release a balloon full of air it tends to fly uncontrolled all over the place? Paul picks up on that principle when he said that you must fill the vacuum that has been created by the "put off's" and prevent the unclean spirit from returning with seven of his cousins. (Matt. 13:44-45, Hainley rendition).   The insurance package to prevent this: "Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear each other’s burdens and have a heart of forgiveness,  just as the Lord forgave you and, beyond all these things, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (Vs. 12b-14).

The fourth principle, I might add the most difficult one, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts and Let the word of Christ richly dwell with you."  (vs 15 - 16).  In other words, you must elevate God to the first seat in the aircraft - the pilot's seat - and be willing to be part of the crew that empties the trash cans and sweeps the aisles.

As I mentioned above, the Seed Planting Principles and Change Process were the anchor points of what we tried to implant in the hearts of the families; but there was always one or more parents who came back and said, "Mr. H. I tried what you taught us and it just did not work for my family.”  My response,  “Did you notice there is a prerequisites t to the change process?  Verse one of chapter three begins with two trigger words, "therefore" and "if".  

"Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, have set your minds on things above and your life is hidden with Christ in God and when Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."  (v. 1-4)

Soooo, friends and neighbors, when a parent would say, “Hey dude, it didn't work in my house!”, I would ask them  how long did you try and make it work?  Did you do any preparation work like reading Colossians three? How long did you try the old program?  The answers were usually the same, “One week”, No, I did not do any study on how to make it work”,  The old program? It is the only one I ever knew.    The point:  You can be a new creature in Christ Jesus by surrendering your life to Jesus and entering into covenant with Him and follow Paul's change process.

Blessings,

Gramps