How Do You Wish To Live Today?

Occasionally on my weekly prison visits as a Kairos volunteer, an inmate will share what led to his incarceration. Often times, the decisions and actions that culminated in their arrest were based on what some call, “the law of the streets,” an unwritten code of personal respect and survival. Among its various forms is revenge—settling disputes or offenses through physical retaliation. I often think, Why let anyone else’s act of instigation dictate your future? Retaliation leads to life behind bars—no freedom, no family, no control, little hope. For the law of the streets is accountable to the law of the land.

In last week’s post, we began to look at our active role in transformation, noting the call to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”¹ It is “the Spirit of truth”² who redirects our thinking, certainly, and most often through the Word of God; our role, in turn, is to “set [our] minds on the things of the Spirit.”³ Paul notes the urgency: “For to set the mind on the flesh [our human inclination toward sin] 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.”⁴

To “set one’s mind” on something is to intentionally focus one’s thoughts on it and allow it to influence one’s decisions and direction. As we set our hearts and minds on the Spirit, He will never lead us down the path to sin and death. To that end, and in His power, we remain alert to falsehood and vigilant against it: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”⁵ And those who set their minds on the Spirit, He will always lead in the ways that are good and right, the things against which there is no law.⁶ This is the Christian walk; this is new life in Christ. This life and peace.

In the hostility of the flesh or the peace of the Spirit, how do you wish to live today? The choice is clear; let Him lead.

Father, your ways are good and your words are sure. Thank you for sending your Spirit to guide us through our journey here. Grace us to set our minds on Him and live in life and peace. In Christ we pray. Amen.

¹ Romans 12:2 ESV
² John 16:13 ESV
³ Romans 8:5 ESV
⁴ Romans 8:6-7 ESV, emphasis added
⁵ 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
⁶ Galatians 5:23 ESV