A Dramatic Change of Mind
Bible Reading: Romans 8
Romans 8:5-8, “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.”
“While walking through the forest one day, a man found a young eagle who had fallen out of his nest. He took it home and put it in his barnyard, where it soon learned to eat and behave like the chickens. One day, a naturalist passed by the farm and asked why it was the king of all birds should be confined to live in the barnyard with the chickens. The farmer replied that since he had given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly. Since it now behaved like the chickens, it was no longer an eagle.
“Still, it has the heart of an eagle,” replied the naturalist, “and can surely be taught to fly.” He lifted the eagle toward the sky and said, “You belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly.”
The eagle, however, was confused. He did not know who he was and seeing the chickens eating their food; he jumped down to be with them again. The naturalist took the bird to the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, “You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly.” But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self and world and jumped down once more for the chicken food. Finally, the naturalist took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain. There he held the king of the birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, “You are an eagle. You belong to the sky. Stretch forth your wings and fly.” The eagle looked around, back towards the barnyard and up to the sky. Then the naturalist lifted him straight towards the sun and it happened that the eagle began to tremble. Slowly, he stretched his wings, and with a triumphant cry, soared away into the heavens. It may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens with nostalgia. It may even be that he occasionally revisits the barnyard. But as far as anyone knows, he has never returned to lead the life of a chicken.” (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI.).
Our passage speaks of two different groups which have two different mind-sets. Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh and experience death. Contrarily, those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit and experience life and peace. The mind which is set on the flesh is hostile to God, cannot submit to His law, and cannot please Him.
Before you were saved, you had no alternative except to set your mind on the things of the flesh. You were powerless to think otherwise. Though you were created to know and enjoy and worship God, sin worked to confuse your thinking and governed your life according to sinful pursuits, which only worked to bring you harm. You were like an eagle in a barnyard, created to soar. Instead, you were left pecking about with the chickens. But then you trusted in Jesus and were indwelt with the Spirit and a miraculous change took place! By the Spirit, you’ve experienced a dramatic change of mind. Now, to think as you used to think is not in keeping with your new identity in Christ. By the Spirit, you are taught and empowered to think according to the reality of who you are in Jesus. And you are like an eagle, not a chicken, created anew in Christ to soar to new heights of Christlike maturity, to the glory of God. So spread your wings and fly!
SINCE JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart;
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Chorus: Since Jesus came into my heart.
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart
I have ceased from my wand’rings and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And my sins which were many are all washed away [Chorus]
I shall go there to dwell in that City I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
And I’m happy, so happy as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Since Jesus came into my heart [Chorus]
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: R.h. Mcdaniel / C.h. Gabriel
Since Jesus Came Into My Heart lyrics © Word Music, Llc
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