Articles
Set Your Minds
“SET YOUR MINDS!”
In the gospel of Matthew, we read a remarkable account of Peter rebuking Jesus. In the 16th chapter, we read that Jesus was beginning to show His disciples that He had to go to Jerusalem. He told them that He must suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes. Jesus told them He would eventually be killed and raised on the third day. Peter rebuked the Lord at this and vowed that these things would never happen, and that he would not allow it. The Lord said to Peter,” Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16:23) Jesus tells Peter that his mind is on the things of men and not on the things of God. He reminds Peter that he must set and focus his mind on things above and not on the things on earth.
We are very much like Peter. Many times, we focus on the things of this earth and not on the heavenly things. We set our minds on things of men and not on the things of God. The Greek word “phroneo” is the word for “being mindful.” It is found several times in the New Testament the setting of one’s mind on God.
The following Scriptures remind us to “set our minds:”
Where is your mind set? Is it set on the things of men or on those things of God? We cannot be acceptable to God if we try to set our minds on both earth and heaven. God allows us to make these choices. He does not force anyone to follow Him. He does not force anyone to obey Him. He does not force anyone to believe in Him. He offers you the opportunity to focus on Him or earthly things. We have the choice. Which will you accept?
Written by Larry Schneider
