Mindset

​Generally speaking I love the color green, but in this case I’ll make an exception.  I put a Koi pond in my backyard looking forward to spending time each day sitting by the pool to pray and enjoy watching beautiful fish grow.  But I can no longer see the fish! Algae proliferates despite the fast current the pump creates.  If I don’t do something drastic soon, the green goop will kill the fish, the mosquitoes will breed and I will coin a new word, pond·tif·i·cate, which mean “to hold opinions or judgments clouded by stale thinking.

Meditation
Colossians 3:1,2--So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth.
 
Twice Paul delivers the message—focus on heaven not on earth.  Having a spiritual mindset is not easy; we’re born on the earth, raised on the earth and eventually become earth.  Our only escape from earthly (sinful) things is to find a champion who can deliver us from sin and death.  The Bible tells us “Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him” (Genesis 5:24).  Elijah was taken to heaven alive on a fiery chariot—2 Kings 2:11.  These two men escaped death but neither was sinless and therefore qualified to save mankind.  

Jesus willingly suffered crucifixion as a perfect Son of Man to atone our sin penalty. He overcame death to triumphantly rise into heaven.  He made a way for us to join Him.  We do this by placing our faith in Him and by putting to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature: “. . . sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry” (3:5).  Paul promises that when Christ, “When the Messiah, who is your[a] life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (3:4). 
​
My Koi cannot conquer the algae in their pond.  It is too strong!  The only way they can be saved is for me to completely change the water and treat it. So also, I cannot change my condition on a polluted earth.  My only hope is for God to replace my dying water with His Living Water.  But, unlike the helpless Koi, God gives me the right and ability to request the saving help of His Son and the right to determine my behavior by adopting a heavenly mindset!    I’m so glad God sent Jesus to save me!  I’m amazed He gave me the right to love Him.  I’ve set my heart and mind on things above!  How about you?   Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb to live in the will of the Lion!  
 
Inspiration
Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.—G. K. Chesterton
The difference between worldliness and godliness is a renewed mind.—Erwin W. Lutzer 
 
©2005 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)