"Keep Your Minds Fixed on the Things Above" - WHAT IT MEANS TO FIX OUR MINDS ON THE THINGS ABOVE

Those who hope to live on earth must keep their minds fixed on the things above. They do this when they put Jehovah and his Kingdom first in their lives. (Luke 10:25-27)  This is what Christ did and this is what we need to do too. (1 Peter 2:21) The first-century Christians were surrounded by false reasonings, worldly philosophies, and materialism.  We find these same things today in Satan's system. (Read 2 Corinthians 10:5.)  We need to imitate Jesus and guard against anything that can damage our relationship with Jehovah.

Have we allowed the world's view of money and possessions to affect us?  We show what we really love by what we think about and what we do. Jesus explained this when he said: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21) We need to ask ourselves what is most important to us.  Do we spend  a lot of time worrying about money, thinking about getting a better job, or trying to have a more comfortable way of life?  Or do we live a simple life and focus on our relationship with Jehovah?  (Matthew 6:22)  Jesus said if we focus on storing up "treasures on earth," we may lose our relationship with Jehovah. - MATTHEW 6:19, 020, 24.

We are imperfect, so it is easy for us to do things that are wrong.  (Read Romans 7:21-25) If we do not rely on God's holy spirit, we might become involved in "wild parties and drunkenness," immorality, or even "brazen conduct," having no respect for God's laws.  (Romans 13:12, 13)  We are constantly fighting our imperfect tendencies. We can win this fight only if we keep our minds fixed on the things above. This requires effort, which is why Paul said:  'I pummel my body and lead it as a slave." (1 Corinthians 9:27) We too need to be strict with ourselves.  Let us discuss the examples of two faithful men who did their best to please God. - HEBREWS 11:6. 

Next time: "Keep Your Minds Fixed on the Things Above" - ABRAHAM "PUT FAITH IN JEHOVAH"

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