by Ronny E. Hinds<\/p>\n
A Christian’s greatest need, without exception, is to be spiritually minded. This means the primary focus of life is spiritual matters. It means that every thought and action is controlled by what God wants. This way of thinking always asks, “Do these thoughts, does this behavior, please God? How does God want me to think, and what does God want me to do?”<\/p>\n
Read and think:<\/p>\n
“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, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace<\/em>” (Romans 8:5-6).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We have a choice; two alternatives: 1) Being carnally minded; 2) Being spiritually minded. The carnal mind makes its life focus (sets its mind on) fleshly things. The spiritual mind makes its life focus (sets its mind on) spiritual things. Note the condition of each mind. The fleshly mind “is death<\/em>.” The spiritual mind “is life and peace<\/em>.”<\/p>\n
Let’s be honest about it. Every Christian struggles between those two mindsets. At times, we are clearly focused on spiritual things, while at other times, we find ourselves allowing worldly values to determine our attitudes and behavior. The spiritually minded person understands this and continually wages war against worldly influences that seek to control life. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand<\/em>” (Ephesians 6:13). The carnal-minded person ignores the danger, seeking to justify participation.<\/p>\n
The spiritually minded person is always looking for ways to be and do what God wants. This person never sees their present level of spiritual commitment and development as sufficient. Studying Scripture, self-evaluation, prayer, exhortation, confession, and repentance make up the foundation of their daily lives. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind…<\/em>” (Philippians 3:13-15).<\/p>\n
Some may ask, “How can I know if I’m carnally or spiritually minded?” Think! When you are faced with deciding whether to do something good for you spiritually versus doing something that satisfies the fleshly mind, which do you choose? Which do you find pleasure in doing? Which gives you the most satisfaction? Which creates more excitement in you? Yes, at times we must force ourselves to do what is spiritually best, but such forcing begins the process of change and the forming of spiritual habits. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth”<\/em> (Colossians 3:1-2). Even acceptable activities of the world must always be secondary!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Ronny E. Hinds A Christian’s greatest need, without exception, is to be spiritually minded. This means the primary focus of life is spiritual matters. It means that every thought and action is controlled by what God wants. This way of thinking always asks, “Do these thoughts, does this behavior, please God? How does God…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1679,609],"class_list":["post-87643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-spirituality","tag-worldliness"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":60031,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/on-being-spiritually-minded\/","url_meta":{"origin":87643,"position":0},"title":"On Being Spiritually Minded","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 20, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jefferson David Tant \"The need of Gods' people has ever been, for spiritual power. The emphasis and tendency too often is, and has been, toward power that comes with prestige, numbers, money t h e power of weight. The Bible emphasis is on power of a spiritual nature, operation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51963,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/are-people-who-rejected-the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirit-not-christians-in-actual-fact\/","url_meta":{"origin":87643,"position":1},"title":"Are people who rejected the ministry of the Holy Spirit not Christians in actual fact?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 15, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: The\u00a0article on the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit as a sin that cannot be forgiven did not really explain why those people accused Jesus of casting the demons by the power of Beelzebub. \u00a0In reality, there are people who professed to be Christians but reject the ministry of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":60915,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-our-desires-produce-within-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":87643,"position":2},"title":"What Our Desires Produce Within Us","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 28, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Galatians 5:19-23 Context: Paul has severely chastised the Galatians for attempting to bind the Old Law upon Christians. As he wraps up his arguments as to why this is wrong, Paul points out that those who desire to bind the Old Law are worldly-minded. They\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28721,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-the-natural-man-unable-to-choose-anything-that-is-spiritual\/","url_meta":{"origin":87643,"position":3},"title":"Is the natural man unable to choose anything that is spiritual?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had someone quote to me I Corinthians 2:14. Does this mean that the natural man will not choose anything that is of a spiritual nature?\u00a0 I believe that we have a free will to choose what we so desire, but if we were all in times past a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8286,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/after-a-person-becomes-a-christian-can-they-live-as-they-please\/","url_meta":{"origin":87643,"position":4},"title":"After a person becomes a Christian, can they live as they please?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 26, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: There are some people who feel that Christians can live a lifestyle pretty much as they please after \u201cbelieving on the Lord Jesus Christ\u201d ( Ephesians 2:8-9; John 5:24; and others). Faith alone in Christ alone with nothing else required, it is all in the rewards. Is that your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7487,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-pornographys-draw\/","url_meta":{"origin":87643,"position":5},"title":"What is pornography’s draw?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 22, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I don't know if this was already explained, but why are so many people addicted to pornography? More and more people are engaging in this kind of activities. And the viewers get younger and younger. I highly doubt that there are any benefits of pornography. But why? 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