Colossians 3:2 - Be Heavenly Minded.
Colossians 3:2 (NIV) Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:2 (NLT) Think about the things
of heaven, not the things of earth.
Colossians 3:2 (MSG) Don't shuffle along,
eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things
right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to
what is going on around Christ - that's where the
action is. See things from his perspective.
COMMENTARY PEARL
The journey home is nice, but the journey
is not the goal. I prepared part of this
message on an airplane. As I looked around at fellow
passengers, I saw content people. Thanks to books,
pillows, and crossword puzzles, they passed the time
quite nicely. But suppose this announcement were
heard: Ladies and gentlemen, this flight is your
final destination. We will never land. Your home
is this plane, so enjoy the journey.
Passengers would become mutineers. Wed
take over the cockpit and seek a landing strip.
We wouldnt settle for such an idea. The
journey is not the destination. The vessel is not
the goal. Those who are content with nothing
more than joy in the journey are settling for too
little satisfaction. Our hearts tell us there is
more to this life than this life. We, like E.T.,
lift bent fingers to the sky. We may not know
where to point, but we know not to call this
airplane our home.
In Gods narrative, life on earth is
but the beginning: the first letter of the first
sentence in the first chapter of the great story God
is writing with your life.
Do you feel as if your best years have
passed you by? Hogwash. You will do your best work
in heaven. Do you regret wasting seasons of
life on foolish pursuits? So do I. But we can
stop our laments. We have an eternity to make up
for lost time. Are you puzzled by the challenges
of your days? Then see yourself as an uncut
jewel and God as a lapidary. He is polishing you
for your place in his kingdom. Your biggest
moments lie ahead, on the other side of the grave.
So seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of
God (Col. 3:1 NKJV). Scripture uses a starchy
verb here. Zeteo (seek) is to covet
earnestly, strive after, to inquire, desire, even
require.
Seek heaven the way a sailor seeks the
coast or a pilot seeks the landing strip or a
missile seeks heat. Head for home the way a pigeon
wings to the nest or the prodigal strode to his
papa. Think only about it (3:2 NCV). Keep
your mind on it (3:2 GWT). Set your sights
on the realities of heaven (3:1 NLT).
Pursue the things over which Christ presides
(3:1 MSG). Obsess yourself with heaven! [Max
Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
INTRODUCTION
Paul summons the Colossians to a new way
of thinking that results in a new lifestyle.
This new way of thinking is grounded in the
resurrection that began with Christ and Christ's supreme
power over the physical and spiritual world.
Because we have been raised with Christ,
our spiritual lives anchor us and give our
everyday lives meaning. Christ gives us hope for the
future and the power to live for him now. This
truth provides a different perspective on our
lives here on earth. By seeking what Christ
desires, we have the power to break our obsession
with pleasure and leisure activities. At the same
time, following Christ means loving and serving
others in this world just like he did.
Do you think this life has little
relevance to eternal life? That wasn't the case for
Paul. Paul outlines this new way of thinking in
these four verses. Then for the next two chapters,
he talks about many of the ways this applies to
everyday living " for all the relationships that
make up each day. [NLT SB 2008]
COMMENTARY
I have read that we only use five percent
of our brains. Presumably, when we get to
Heaven we will be able to tap that other
ninety-five percent, perhaps even more. It will be
glorious beyond our wildest dreams, and I look
forward to it.
Another great thing I am looking forward
to in Heaven is not only being reunited with my
son and with my loved ones, but also to the fact
that we are going to eat in Heaven. Isnt that
good to know?
We are told in Revelation 19:9, And
the angel said to me, Write this: Blessed are
those who are invited to the wedding feast of the
Lamb. And he added, These are true words that
come from God (NLT). Not only will we be
eating together, but we also will be in some pretty
good company. The Bible tells us that they
will come from all over the world - from east and
west - and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven
(Matthew 8:11 NLT).
Heaven will be amazing. And that is why
the Bible tells us that we all should be more
heavenly minded: Since you have been raised to new
life with Christ, set your sights on the
realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of
honor at Gods right hand. Think about the
things of heaven, not the things of earth
(Colossians 3:1"2 NLT).
We spend the majority of our time
thinking about things on Earth, things that we are
concerned with and stressed about. The Bible isnt
saying that we shouldnt think about these
things. Rather, its saying that we shouldnt
stress about these things. Think more about Heaven.
When you do, it will put everything else in the
proper perspective. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
As a writer, I look at screens. All. The.
Time. And when I stop looking at the big screen in
front of me, somehow I end up reaching for the
cell phone in my purse to look at. It is crazy
how so much of my day can get sucked up checking
on friends on Facebook or watching funny
videos. In this tech age, the pull of the screen is
always present. I can't seem to stop myself from
surrendering to its siren song of "I'm so important ...
don't ever stop looking at me." But I also realize
that staring at a screen for days on end makes my
back seize up and my calves hurt. It is a poor
substitute for engaging with the real world. And it
distracts me from important things like real people,
my purpose in this life, and Jesus.
It is hard for me to hear what someone is
saying to me when I am reading a headline or
listening to a song or answering an e-mail. It is even
harder to hear Jesus. It takes strength and
discipline to peel ourselves away from the distractions
of life. Jesus wants us to focus on Him and the
things of heaven, not just of this earth.
What we focus on here on earth determines
our destiny. We get to make the conscious choice
of what we concentrate on. Jesus would like it
to be Him, so that we can devotedly know Him
and His life-changing power. So that we can
understand the depths of forgiveness that He has for us
and what life in His presence looks like. The
life He has for us is truly glorious. by Susanna
Foth Aughtmon [Mornings With Jesus 2018
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
Most of us aren't tempted to carve an image
out of stone, wood or ivory and bow down to
worship it. However, we are always in danger of
constructing false images of God in our minds and
allowing those images to replace the true God. When
we feel disconnected from or dissatisfied with
God, we replace him with something else - a
hobby, a dream, a person or something else that
captures our attention. Whatever our lives revolve
around - whatever we spend most of our time
thinking about - may be taking a place in our hearts
that God himself desires to fill. When we
intentionally set our hearts and minds on Christ and his
kingdom, we reorient ourselves to truth and position
ourselves to be fulfilled and satisfied in him. [NIV
Once A Day Bible]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Just look at the gifts he has given you:
He has sent his angels to care for you, his
Holy Spirit to dwell in you, his church to
encourage you, and his word to guide you. You have
privileges only a fiance could have. Anytime you
speak, he listens; make a request and he responds.
He will never let you be tempted too much or
stumble too far. Let a tear appear on your cheek,
and he is there to wipe it. Let a love sonnet
appear on your lips, and he is there to hear it. As
much as you want to see him, he wants to see you
more.
He is building a house for you. And with
every swing of the hammer and cut of the saw,
hes dreaming of the day he carries you over the
threshold. There are many rooms in my Fathers
house; I would not tell you this if it were not
true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
After I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come back and take you to be with me so that you
may be where I am (John 14:2"3).
You have been chosen by Christ. You are
released from your old life in your old house, and he
has claimed you as his beloved. Then where is
he? you might ask. Why hasnt he come?
There is only one answer. His bride is
not ready. She is still being prepared.
Engaged people are obsessed with
preparation. The right dress. The right weight. The right
hair and the right tux. They want everything to
be right. Why? So their fiance will marry
them? No. Just the opposite. They want to look
their best because their fiance is marrying
them.
The same is true for us. We want to look
our best for Christ. We want our hearts to be
pure and our thoughts to be clean. We want our
faces to shine with grace and our eyes to sparkle
with love. We want to be prepared.
Why? In hopes that he will love us? No.
Just the opposite. Because he already does.
You are spoken for. You are engaged, set
apart, called out, a holy bride. Forbidden waters
hold nothing for you. You have been chosen for
his castle. Dont settle for one-night stands
in the arms of a stranger.
Be obsessed with your wedding date. Guard
against forgetfulness. Be intolerant of memory
lapses. Write yourself notes. Memorize verses. Do
whatever you need to do to remember. Aim at what
is in heaven Think only about the things in
heaven (Col. 3:1"2). You are engaged to royalty,
and your Prince is coming to take you home. [Max
Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20161120-2150.html
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF
JESUS
1st of 28: Divine Dining:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4
4th of 28: Cared For:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds
5th of 28: Saved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI
6th of 28: You Can Change:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc
8th of 28 Our Holy Father:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY
9th of 28 Gifts of Service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA
10th of 28 The Holy Spirit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo
11th of 28 The Law of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI
Live ongoing series in progress.
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
