Computer Geeks For Christ

Home Email a FriendPrint Article
Phroneo: Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Lately the Holy Spirit has impressed upon me the importance of a single word that I had not known before. The Greek word “phroneo” which conveys the meaning of mindedness, opinion, affection, etc… It deals with a mind set. The Holy Spirit has been reminding me to have the proper mindset in my walk with Christ.

This advice from God reminds me of the days of Little League when the coach used to give me the similar advice, “Keep your eye on the ball. Concentrate on the ball.” My wife can remember from dance, “Watch your step. Concentrate on what your feet are doing”. Now God is saying, “Concentrate on me. Watch what I am doing.”

First Peter was reprimanded rather sharply by Jesus with this same word “phroneo”. Don’t be hard on Peter he was a great man of God who went on to do great things but this was one moment where he lost the proper mind set and he took his eyes off of Christ.

Matthew 16:23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Mark 8:33
But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Both Matthew and Mark express the same record here. The context is immediately after Jesus has revealed to his disciples that he will be killed by the religious leadership in Jerusalem. The attention is on the word “savourest” because it is translated from the Greek “phroneo”. The reason why Jesus is rebuking Satan is because he is causing Peter’s mindset to be on the things of men instead of on the things of God. It is not known exactly what Peter’s mindset is; but it is likely that he shared the mindset of so many of Jesus followers that He would set up an earthly kingdom that would liberate Israel from Rome. God of course had much bigger plans.

Romans 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Once again the Greek verb “phroneo” appears but this time with instructions. Being born again becomes absolute necessity. The word “after” or in the Greek “kata” could be rendered, “that which is joined to”. Unless you are joined to the Holy Spirit you cannot have the mindset that God intends. There is only one way to be joined to the Spirit. That is to be born again. To learn how to be born again call 1-888-NEED-HIM or read the ABC’s of Salvation here.

One who is born again may slide back. They may fall or fail. Ultimately though when the heart is joined with the Holy Spirit then He will woo and cause a return to God. The proper mindset is present because of the Holy Spirit. The continual message of the Holy Spirit is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God come in the flesh sent to save our souls from hell by His sacrifice on the Cross.

Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

1 Corinthians 4:6
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

By this time a picture has begun to emerge of a mindset of humility. Each of these verses regards the proper mindset to have for your self. There is no better explanation than that of I Corinthians 13:11. Immediately following a discourse on the meaning and importance of Divine Love this reference is made to the “phroneo” or understanding of a child. Anyone who has been a parent for a while knows that the mindset of a child is that of a completely self centered universe.

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Philippians 3:15-19
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an exsample.
(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Romans 15:5
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Philippians 2:2,5-8
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Ultimately this humility is key to obtaining unity in the church as suggested by five passages of scripture. In the end the ultimate example of humility is given. Jesus the very Son of God humbled Himself and went to the cross for us. The record of Christ’s life from beginning until end was of humility. His very birth was in a stable like an animal. He grew up with little money. He lived without a place to sleep often being deprived of food and basic necessities for the sake of others to which He ministered. At the end of His Life He did no different than what He had done for His entire Life. He laid down His life for others.

If Christ is able to humble Himself than how can we do anything less? There is always talk of unity among God’s people. There is always talk of working together and sharing the harvest. If this vision is ever to come to fruition it will be because God’s people learn to have the same mindset together. That mindset is of the humility of Christ.