Simple Truth

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what

the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the

Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

Romans 8:5

 

 

As plain as the nose on your face!

That is how I would describe the obviousness of today’s text.

To me there is nothing subtle or nuanced in how the Apostle Paul wrote it.

If Paul were a mathematician he might have expressed the verse this way:

Flesh mindset = Minds set on what the flesh desires

While

Spirit mindset = Minds set on what the Spirit desires

Sometimes we make things too complicated or too deep.

Not so with Romans 8:5

It makes clear how we can change our thought life.

Maybe you’ve struggled in the past with your thoughts and you’ve convinced yourself that it was an attack from the devil but now you can clearly see that it is a product of whether you are living according to the flesh or according to the Spirit.

That’s not to say that the enemy can’t take the mind of someone living only to satisfy their flesh and bring all sorts of confusion, fear, doubt and torment.  

  He exploits our weaknesses.

He is out to destroy us.

The good news is that God strengthens us in our weakness.

He has come to bring us abundant life and has given us a sound mind.  

When we discipline that mind according to Philippians 4:8, which we looked at previously, a transformation is under way -

You are on your way to a renewed mind!