June 13, 2016: SOAP #2384: 1Kings 13,14; 2Chronicles 12; Philippians 3

Scripture: Philippians (NIV) 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Philippians (NIV) 3:18 For, as I have often told you before and now say 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 on earthly things.

Observation: The mind is an important part of the Christian life. From the Bible’s perspective, I have a mind; I am not a mind. I have a mind; my mind does not have me. I am to discipline my mind and use it to control my body in a way that honor’s God. There is too much ahead for me to waste my time thinking about what is past. When my mind becomes locked into earthly things, I think as an enemy of the cross.

Application: I need to treat my mind like a most precious possession. It is more valuable than my automobile. Saturday I took my car in for an oil change to make sure all the fluids were clean and properly filled. How much more should I care about keeping the inside of my mind clean and properly filled with God’s Word.

Prayer:   Holy Spirit, help me keep a close watch on what is accepted into my mind. May it be easy for you to communicate with me and may my thoughts be acceptable to you. I want my thoughts to be under your control. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!