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The Battle for a Spiritual Mind, June 2
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it
is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 8:6,
7
.
The natural mind leans toward pleasure and self-gratification. It is
Satan’s policy to manufacture an abundance of this. He seeks to fill the
minds of men with a desire for worldly amusement, that they may have no
time to ask themselves the question, How is it with my soul? The love of
pleasure is infectious. Given up to this, the mind hurries from one point
to another, ever seeking for some amusement. Obedience to the law of
God counteracts this inclination and builds barriers against ungodliness....
The ability to enjoy the riches of glory will be developed in proportion
to the desire we have for these riches. How shall an appreciation of God
and heavenly things be developed unless it is in this life? If the claims and
cares of the world are allowed to engross all our time and attention, our
spiritual powers weaken and die for lack of exercise. In a mind wholly
given up to earthly things every inlet through which light from heaven
may enter is closed. God’s transforming grace cannot be felt on mind or
character.
We are living amid the perils of the last days, and we should guard
every avenue by which Satan can approach us with his temptation.... A
mere assent to the truth will never save a soul from death. We must be
sanctified through the truth; every defect of character must be overcome, or
it will overcome us and become a controlling power for evil. Commence
without a moment’s delay to root out every pernicious weed from the
garden of the heart; and through the grace of Christ allow no plants to
flourish there but such as will bear fruit unto eternal life.
Cultivate whatever in your character is in harmony with the character
of Christ. Cherish those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and
of good report; but put away whatever is unlike our Redeemer.... Every
soul that gains eternal life must be like Christ, “holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners” (
Hebrews 7:26
).
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