Set Your Mind
"19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Philippians 3:19-21
Cross-referencing 2 Corinthians 5:1 with Philippians 3:19-21 allows us to see the difference in mentality between the Ambassador and the unbeliever.
Verse 19 clearly explains that the unbeliever sets his mind on the things of this world. His worth (“glory”) is found here on this earth. His “god” is everything that he can see here and now. The unbeliever is focused on what is temporary and worldly.
But the Ambassador “sets his mind on the things that are above.” His focus is on Christ. The Ambassador is willing to let the things of this earth pass away, because he is longing for his eternal home that has already been prepared for him (Romans 8:28-31).
We can demonstrate the mentality of being an Ambassador in the way that we view a baseball game. Do you live and die on every pitch, stressing about whether or not your son is going to get a full-ride college scholarship because of that individual pitch/play/hit/strikeout? OR are you at peace during the game because your hope is trusting that God has all things under His totally control, and your mind is set on what is eternal…?
The most important element of an Ambassador baseball game is the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after the game. Nothing trumps this. Nothing gives us purpose for being at the field more than sharing the Gospel. It is in the presentation of the Gospel that “purpose” becomes a “responsibility” of the Ambassador (Isaiah 40:9).
If this is the case (and I assure you that it is), then think about the importance of how you conduct yourself BEFORE that Gospel presentation moment. Think about the testimony and the witness that your actions and words have leading up to that moment. You have a 90-minute window to set up this Gospel presentation in the way that you engage with the other team, parents, supporters and coaches.
It is vital that you, as a representative of Christ at this baseball game, “set your mind” on the Gospel even before you arrive at the field. This makes the game of baseball a transformative opportunity. God has gifted the Ambassador a platform to use a worldly, temporary game for His Glory.
Verse 19 clearly explains that the unbeliever sets his mind on the things of this world. His worth (“glory”) is found here on this earth. His “god” is everything that he can see here and now. The unbeliever is focused on what is temporary and worldly.
But the Ambassador “sets his mind on the things that are above.” His focus is on Christ. The Ambassador is willing to let the things of this earth pass away, because he is longing for his eternal home that has already been prepared for him (Romans 8:28-31).
We can demonstrate the mentality of being an Ambassador in the way that we view a baseball game. Do you live and die on every pitch, stressing about whether or not your son is going to get a full-ride college scholarship because of that individual pitch/play/hit/strikeout? OR are you at peace during the game because your hope is trusting that God has all things under His totally control, and your mind is set on what is eternal…?
The most important element of an Ambassador baseball game is the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ after the game. Nothing trumps this. Nothing gives us purpose for being at the field more than sharing the Gospel. It is in the presentation of the Gospel that “purpose” becomes a “responsibility” of the Ambassador (Isaiah 40:9).
If this is the case (and I assure you that it is), then think about the importance of how you conduct yourself BEFORE that Gospel presentation moment. Think about the testimony and the witness that your actions and words have leading up to that moment. You have a 90-minute window to set up this Gospel presentation in the way that you engage with the other team, parents, supporters and coaches.
It is vital that you, as a representative of Christ at this baseball game, “set your mind” on the Gospel even before you arrive at the field. This makes the game of baseball a transformative opportunity. God has gifted the Ambassador a platform to use a worldly, temporary game for His Glory.
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Devoted to Teaching | Acts 2:42"All This Is From God" | 2 Corinthians 5:18Battle For The Truth | Jan HusThree Elements of Prayer Taught by King Solomon | 1 Kings 8:22-30Time To Act, Reflecting On A Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones SermonExploring 2 Corinthians 5:21Exploring Isaiah 40:7-8Sin Separates Us From God
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The Transformative Power, Profundity and Promise of the Simple Gospel, part 1The Transformative Power, Profundity and Promise of the Simple Gospel, part 2The Transformative Power, Profundity and Promise of the Simple Gospel, part 3The Transformative Power, Profundity and Promise of the Simple Gospel, part 4
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