2.
Be transformed by the renewing of our mind
For
the future generation to have any glimmer of hope the individual has to be
transformed by the renewing of the mind because the examples Jesus Christ gave
us on how to live, is diametrically opposite to how we live our lives today.
Furthermore,
the natural mind that we all were born with is carnal and is enmity against
God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those
who are in the flesh cannot please God. Also, the natural man does not receive
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This
necessitates therefore, a change of mind from being carnal to becoming
spiritual, from being at variance with the law of God to becoming in harmony
with the law of God and being able to receive and discern spiritual things,
because to be carnally minded is death: But to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.
After
affirming the fact that we cannot serve God and mammon, Jesus said, “Therefore
I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will
drink; or about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and
the body more than clothing?”
According
to Jesus Christ the kingdom of God and His righteousness takes precedence over
the cares and concerns of this life. We are not to worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble (Matthew
6:25, 33-34).
We
have been asked to withdraw ourselves from the, “Useless disputes of men of
corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means
of gain, because godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought
nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having
food and clothing with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:5-8).
The
type of transformation that is needed is that of having a different mindset, a
different perspective on how to evaluate earthly things and how to use them not
placing them before the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and so we have
been admonished saying: "Set your mind on things above, not on things on
the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:2-3).
The
Lord’s perspective of wealth is diametrically opposite to the world’s
perspective of wealth. To the elect few the Lord says, “Do not fear, little
flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what
you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a
treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches or moth
destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:33-34).
We
should therefore be focusing on the spiritual aspect of life which in general
term known as the fruit of the Spirit which consist of love, which is two-folds,
love towards God which is expressed by giving Him the honor and glory that is
due to Him as LORD, and the love of our neighbor expressed by loving them as
ourselves, with the inclusion of joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
To
be optimistic about the future, we must not be conformed to the system of this
world, and be transformed by the renewing of the mind, by learning how to
become a servant of God and not be a servant of mammon, or servants of men,
because no one can serve two masters. We can only love one and hate the other,
or be loyal to one and hate the other.
Remember,
we were bought with a price we are no longer our own therefore, we are to
glorify God in our body and in our spirit which belongs to Him.
With
brotherly love
Lucius
Joseph
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