.png)
Romans 8:5-8 says, "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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God."
This passage highlights the importance of having a mind that is focused on the things of the Spirit rather than the flesh. In Colossians 3:2, Paul writes, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." This reinforces the idea that our minds should be focused on heavenly things, not worldly things.
And why not worldly things? Because as James tells us in chapter 4:4:
"...Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." This verse clearly tells us that if we are so focused on the things of the world, and we so love the things of the world, we are enemies of God.
In addition, Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." This shows that when we live by the Spirit, we are less likely to give in to our fleshly desires.
Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul explains that "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." This means that if our minds are set on the flesh, we will not be able to understand or accept the things of the Spirit.
Therefore, it is crucial that we set our minds on the things of the Spirit and live according to the Spirit. As it says in Romans 8:6, "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."