Are you Keeping Your Eyes on the Prize?

On Sunday, I preached through Romans 8. The chapter is an amazing chapter, and draws those of us to hear it in to a heavenly perspective. There is one thing Paul said in it, however, that has stuck out to me ever since:

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. (Romans 8:5-8).

Notice the term “set their minds”? This demonstrates that, in order to live for Christ, you have to set your mind to it. Conversely, people who live according to the flesh also must set their minds to it. The implications of this are astounding! This means that we can say we love Jesus all we want, but if our mind is set on entertainment, business, bills, or the cares of this life, we’re set on the flesh. Does this mean we don’t do our best to bring glory to God in every aspect of life? BY NO MEANS! However, the flesh is sneaky, crafty. It grows up like the weeds in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, and chokes us out in our growth, and we end up bearing no fruit. So, what do we do?

Simply put: we set our minds on the Spirit. We view everything through the Holy Spirit and the lens of Scripture. Every aspect of our lives becomes dedicated to the Lord. As a spouse, you love your husband or wife as the Word prescribes. As a parent, you love your kids as if they belong to God, and you’re returning them to Him some day. As a worker, you’re not working for the weekend, your boss, or even to pay bills: no matter what you do, you’re doing it as if to the Lord. I could go on, but the point is this: to set your mind on the Spirit means that everything you do is for the Lord. You’re walking by the Spirit, working through the Spirit, loving in the Spirit, and seeking answers from the Spirit. Through God’s word, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you’re seeking to be made complete in Christ.

So, I ask this: are you set on the flesh or Spirit? Is there peace in your life that transcends your circumstances? Or are you worried, angry, anxious or embittered? Ask yourself “Am I keeping my eyes on the prize? Where is my life set? Where is my mind set?” And seek to set your mind on the Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3-21

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to^c his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.