Christian, Earthly Minded?
Josh October 29th, 2006
Last night, as I was having some thoughts before this Lord’s Day I heard an excerpt from Jeremiah Burroughs’ A Treatise on Earthly Mindedness. In it, Mr. Burroughs was at one point writing about prayer and discussing the difference between a man who is earthly minded and a man who is heavenly minded. He made mention of how difficult it is in winter to still labor in prayer because of the cold, and that the one who still engages in such with a right heart is one who is heavenly minded, not spiritually minded.This allusion struck me quite strongly because I’ve never known what it was like to be truly cold for a whole winter. I’ve never known what it was like to really struggle…and yet, look at the sad state of my heavenly mindedness. Think of the travails of the great saints of old without the comfort of central heat and air. Even today, think of the persecuted and worn Christians of violent and third world countries, who labor on in devotion to their Lord with great joy, perseverance, grace, and fortitude! And me? Well, I offer up, “I’m tired” or “I’ve prayed today throughout the day” (i.e. meaning I’ve neglected special, set-aside, private prayer time, thinking my daily thoughts toward God are “enough”).What a rancid taste in my mouth! I repent. I thank the Lord for His mercies which are new every morning. He is good to His people and He has promised to be our God, and our family’s God, and to all those who shall call upon His Name with effectual grace-filled contrition of heart. Blessed be His Name for He does not allow His children to go unchaste Ned or without Spirit-wrought conviction. Let us all consider how we may better hone heavenly mindedness as we worship our Lord on this Day He has set aside for our good and His glory.
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