A New Mind-Set That Brings Peace and Life

The enemy would love to get God’s people to set our minds on the flesh and consume our thoughts with the chaos that is happening in the world.

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I recently heard someone say that from the moment of birth we are on a path to the grave. This is true for those who have not experienced “rebirth” through salvation in Jesus. But it is no longer true for the believer!

Adam introduced sin and sin became the doorway to death for all mankind. But when Christ came to live a life in the flesh and overcame sin— he also overcame death and the grave. Now, those who have come to believe and receive this gift of grace (provided by Jesus); are now on a path of life. The parting of our fleshly bodies is merely a threshold from the temporal into the eternal.

Therefore, we (in Christ) are perpetually on a path of life that will have no end. We do not have to fear the separation from our earthly bodies because that threshold is when we are able to be face to face with the One who paid the price for our sin so that we have this amazing gift of life.

I wanted to bring this reminder because in these trying times where we see so much change and sin manifesting as deep darkness in the world around us— we need to remember that we are not on a path that leads to a grave but we are on a path of life. No law, no man, and no virus can take that away from us. It was secured on the cross. We have been freed from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:6 says, “For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind set of the Spirit is life and peace.”

The enemy would love to get God’s people to set our minds on the flesh (which leads to death) and consume our thoughts with the chaos that is happening in the world around us. But we have the mind of Christ and have set our minds (our thoughts, our affections, and our meditations) on the Spirit— which renews us with life and peace.

This is the inheritance of the Saints— not an inheritance yet to be received but already provided for. Greater things than we can even imagine will come when we cross that threshold from the temporal life in these mortal bodies into the eternal, but we have been given life and peace now therefore our minds should be set on these things.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

This is where our minds should be set! Today, ask the Spirit to set your mind on the “things of the Spirit” which will bring you life and peace. Remember that Romans 8 goes on to say that, “…the mind set on things of the flesh is hostile to God because it has not submitted to him and is unable to.” (vs. 7) We have submitted our minds and lives to God and his ways which brings peace. But if we turn and begin to focus on the things of the flesh we will begin to reap the things of the flesh. The mind set on the flesh will begin to experience depression, decay, and disillusionment. It will begin to submit to things other than God—such as submitting to the flesh rather than the spirit (which will leave you a captive). Your peace will soon turn into hostility and your thoughts into chaos. You have been set free from hostility, sin, and captivity— do not go back!

“…choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

“…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

We are not on a path to death but we live upon a continuous path of life that is paved by grace and peace. Fix your mind on the things of the Spirit and LIVE!

 

 

This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries 

Featured Image by Harpreet Batish from Pixabay

 

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About the Author

Jeffrey and Kathi Pelton understand our culture’s need for encouragement and hope. Through writing and speaking, they escort individuals into awareness of God’s profound compassion and mercy that heals brokenness, and they have a unique ability to help anyone seeking pathways into His kind embrace. For several years, the couple led a house of prayer located in Kelowna, British Columbia.