Set Your Mind

Oh, the quandary of transitive verbs such as lay vs. lie and sit vs. set!  Many a ‘grammar teacher had just as soon set that lesson aside or ... sit it out altogether!

 

How “set” is your mind, and on what is it “set?”  For those of you who didn't excel in grammar (like Mr. Bill), the duty of transitive verbs is to transfer their action to an object.  Paul had a good grasp on this when he penned the Colossian letter, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2).  Paul exhorts the early Christians to discipline themselves with hearts focused on heaven and off this world. You may have heard Christians cautioned not to become “so heavenly-minded they are of no earthly-good.” Truth is, the Christian who is focused on heavenly matters is of the greatest earthly good!  Paul continued, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5).  Federal Express became a household word only when the company turned its focus primarily to one thing – overnight delivery.  Do tell, what would our spiritual lives be like if we were single-focused on Christ Jesus!  Matthew Henry writes, “Upon the wings of affection the heart soars upwards, and is carried forth towards spiritual and divine objects.” It’s a daily struggle to indeed keep the main-thing the main-thing, but what a noble goal for the Christ-called!  The old-timers used to say “set a spell,” and “set” we did.  To sit is good but to set is better – set your mind on Christ today!