This morning these two verse fragments got me to thinking.

“Enemies of the cross of Christ . . . who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:18,19).

I find myself asking, Is it really that narrow?

Those who have their minds captured by earthly things are enemies of the cross of Christ?

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Then I purpose to send my mind higher!

Sometimes I try to find exceptions to nothing. Well, I don’t know that I try so much as that I just live as though God made exceptions to nothing.

For instance, this one:

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).

How often do I indulge in strife, conflict, pickiness, or grumpiness? Sometimes it is so easy to do something just because I know it will bother somebody.

Nothing, Mark!

And how often do I pursue my own glory? Oh, how easy it can be to do and say things that will result in the praise of men! Even something silly — positioning my notebook computer in such a way that people can easily see it’s a genuine IBM ThinkPad.

Nothing!

The solution?

Lowlineness. Humility. Brokenness. The mind of Christ.