Colossians 3:1-3 - How to Set Your Mind On Things Above.
Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV) Since, then, you have
been raised with Christ, set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above,
not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your
life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3 (NLT) 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. 2
Think about the things of heaven, not the things
of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your
real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3 (MSG) So if you're serious
about living this new resurrection life with
Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which
Christ presides. 2 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. 3 Your old life is
dead. Your new life, which is your real life -
even though invisible to spectators - is with
Christ in God. He is your life.
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]
In his letter to the Christians in Rome,
Paul admonishes us, "Don't copy the behavior and
customs of this world, but let God transform you
into a new person by changing the way you think"
(Romans 12:2). In today's verses, he gives us an
important step in that process of transformation. Our
inherent tendency is to direct our lives on this
earth according to what we perceive with our five
senses. The fact is, if we have embraced Christ, our
attachment to this physical world is no longer the
defining element of our existence. Jesus himself is.
The present reality of his love for us
and our new life in him must become the primary
focus of our attention if we hope to escape the
clutches of darkness of this present world. No
religious activity can set us free, no matter how
transcendent it might be. The realities of heaven become
the substance of our lives only when we set our
sights on him in whom our life is hidden.
LORD, help me to see with new eyes today.
Instead of the troubles of my life in this world,
may I focus my vision on you, the author and
finisher of my faith, the lover and keeper of my
soul. Help me to trust in the realities of your
kingdom more than I trust what I can experience with
my physical body. [Praying Through The Bible By
Fuller re Col. 3:1-3]
COMMENTARY PEARLS
You Have Captured God's Heart
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]
Find Your True Home
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]
COMMENTARY
To Be Like Christ
Jesus wants you to be happy, but you
cannot be happy in having your own way and
following the impulses of your own heart. Our
notions, our peculiarities, are wholly human and must
not be humored or indulged. Self is to be
crucified, not now and then but daily, and the
physical, mental, and spiritual must be subordinate to
the will of God. The glory of God, the
perfection of Christian character, is to be the aim,
the purpose, of our life. Christ's followers
must imitate Christ in disposition.... Like
Christ is the watchword, not like your father or
your mother, but like Jesus Christ - hid in
Christ, clothed with Christ's righteousness, imbued
with the Spirit of Christ. All the peculiarities
given us as an inheritance or acquired by
indulgence or through erroneous education must be
thoroughly overcome, decidedly resisted. Love of esteem
and pride of opinion, all must be brought to the
sacrifice.
Jesus is our helper; in Him and through
Him we must conquer. The grace of Christ is
waiting your demand upon it. He will give you grace
and strength as you need it if you ask Him.
The religion of Christ will bind and restrain
every unholy passion, will stimulate to energy, to
self-discipline, and industry, even in the matters of homely,
everyday life, leading us to learn economy, tact, and
self-denial, and to endure even privation without a
murmur. The Spirit of Christ in the heart will be
revealed in the character, will develop noble
qualities and powers. "My grace is sufficient" (2
Corinthians 12:9) says Christ. OHC 29
The Hidden Life
The Spirit of God testifies to and
confirms the simple, but almighty, security of the
life that is hidden with Christ in God.
Paul continually brought this out in his New
Testament letters. We talk as if living a sanctified
life were the most uncertain and insecure thing
we could do. Yet it is the most secure thing
possible, because it has Almighty God in and behind
it. The most dangerous and unsure thing is to
try to live without God. For one who is born
again, it is easier to live in a right-standing
relationship with God than it is to go wrong, provided we
heed Gods warnings and walk in the light
(1 John 1:7).
When we think of being delivered from
sin, being filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18), and walk[ing] in the light, we
picture the peak of a great mountain. We see it as
very high and wonderful, but we say, Oh, I
could never live up there! However, when we do
get there through Gods grace, we find it is
not a mountain peak at all, but a plateau with
plenty of room to live and to grow. You enlarged
my path under me, so my feet did not slip
(Psalm 18:36).
When you really see Jesus, I defy you to
doubt Him. If you see Him when He says, Let not
your heart be troubled (John 14:27), I
defy you to worry. It is virtually impossible to
doubt when He is there. Every time you are in
personal contact with Jesus, His words are real to
you. My peace I give to you (John
14:27) - a peace which brings an unconstrained
confidence and covers you completely, from the top of
your head to the soles of your feet. your
life is hidden with Christ in God, and the
peace of Jesus Christ that cannot be disturbed has
been imparted to you. [My Utmost for His Highest
by Oswald Chambers]
How We Live Obeying God
Do Paul's words here seem a bit strange?
How can you die to this life and still be alive?
How can you put sin to death when it is a
constant temptation? How can you put on a new nature?
Paul uses these word pictures to describe
a reality that is virtually indescribable. You
are a new person because of what Christ has done
and because of the Holy Spirit in you. You put
the sinful things of your old nature to death by
walking in obedience. The next time you have the
chance to lie, kill it! The next time a sexual
temptation comes your way, resist. This is how you put
sin to death in your life.
But Christianity is not just about what
you don't do. Paul gives a strategy to help you
live out your faith each day. Be compassionate,
kind, humble, gentle, and patient; let the Holy
Spirit produce these virtues in you. Forgive
others; after all, the Lord has forgiven you. Let
the words of Christ dwell in your heart;
internalizing the truths of the Bible will help you to put
the sin in your life to death. [The One Year
Bible for New Believers re Col. 3:1-17]
ILLUSTRATIONS
Staying Focused
I get distracted easily. There is just so
much to think about, so many responsibilities. We
all have bills to pay, meetings to attend,
people to deal with, families to care for. No
wonder we can't keep our minds quiet during our
prayer time with God. Many times our minds get
pulled away from where they should be and focused
on what they shouldn't be, putting us at risk
of relapsing into old hurts, hang-ups, and
habits.
It happens to all of us from time to
time. It's not easy to stay focused on heavenly
things when the earthly things are making so much
more noise. The best and maybe the only way to
stay focused on the right things is to always
keep Jesus front and center. That means we
understand that he is with us throughout the day, as
close as our breath. He's always there to help us
at a moment's notice, encourage us, instruct
us, strengthen us, and protect us.
God knows who we are. He understands what
we're made of. That's why he sent his Holy Spirit
to dwell in us. He doesn't have to come from
some faraway place to hear us and help us. When
we focus on his presence within us, everything
else will fall into place.
Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit
that dwells within me, ready to help me stay
focused on those things that are most important. In
Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily
Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
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
Faith Step: Take some screen-free time
and journal your thoughts as you focus
completely on Jesus and His goodness. [Mornings With
Jesus 2018 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
My Mind Told Me
Our daughter came over with one of our
grandsons in tow and asked to borrow a pair of
tweezers. She needed to remove a piece of paper our
grandson had rolled up and stuck in his ear! When
asked why he did such a thing, he answered, "My
mind told me to." Wow! At six years of age his
mind is already suggesting things that are
definitely not in his best interest.
Frankly, that's why most of us are in
recovery. We are losing the battle that goes on
between our ears. We haven't learned to make the
right choice when our minds are in conflict with
our hearts. We learn that lesson only by
listening to God, reading his Word, and filling our
minds with things that are good, positive, and
beneficial.
Of course it's still a battle. It will
always be a battle! But it's a battle we are sure
to win if we've trained our minds to know when
something doesn't line up with God's principles.
I can't lie, my mind still tells me to do
stuff - it's just that now I know when to listen
and when to just say no.
Father, you are always looking out for
me, always showing me the right way to go. Thank
you for loving me with such a great and amazing
love. In Jesus' name, Amen. [Celebrate Recovery
Daily Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Let Heaven Fill Your Thoughts
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]
Set Your Sights on Heaven
Awhile ago someone asked me in an
interview, Why do you talk about Heaven all the
time? He said that he noticed in my sermons or
when Im on the radio or TV that Im always
talking about Heaven.
I thought, Really? Well, good.
Thats a good thing to always talk
about. I wasnt aware I was doing it, but Im
not ashamed or embarrassed by it. Really,
whats more important than where we will spend our
eternal destiny?
Ive always studied Heaven. Ive
always been fascinated by it. I wouldnt say that
Im an expert on it, but I would say that Im
a student of it. And I became greater student
of it in 2008 when my son went to Heaven.
Colossians 3:1"2 tells us, 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 (NLT).
We are to set our hearts and minds on
things above. This is effectively saying,
Constantly be seeking and thinking about Heaven.
Our feet must be on earth, but our minds
and hearts can be in Heaven. Many of us have
gone an entire day without a single thought about
Heaven. That isnt a good thing. We should always
be thinking about it.
Warren Wiersbe, a great Bible
commentator, said, For the Christian, heaven isnt
simply a destination; its a motivation.
If you believe theres an afterlife and
a reward waiting for you for your
faithfulness, wont that motivate you to serve the Lord?
I hope so.
When youre thinking about Heaven and
seeking Heaven, youll be a heavenly minded person
in the best sense of the term. When youre
focused on Heaven, youll live the most fulfilling
life on earth. [By Greg Laurie from Harvest
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]
QUESTION
How can we not think about earthly things?
(3:2)
It is impossible not to think of earthly
things, at least some of the time. We still have to
take care of day to day obligations and
activities. But to set your mind on something means to
"make it your heart's central focus." Paul knew
that we would have to tend to earthly affairs.
But earthly things must not be permitted to take
precedence over the things of God-his word, his
service, his praise. This must be the basis from
which we pursue jobs, families and other important
matters of daily life. [Quest SB]
ONE LINER
Transformation is Gods goal for us, and
we cooperate with His plan of spiritual
metamorphosis when we train our minds to dwell on the
things of God rather than on the things of the
flesh. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley re
Col. 3:2]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Learn to live above your circumstances.
This requires focused time with Me, the One who
overcame the world. Trouble and distress are woven
into the very fabric of this perishing world.
Only My Life in you can empower you to face this
endless flow of problems with good cheer.
As you sit quietly in My Presence, I
shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart.
Little by little, you are freed from earthly
shackles and lifted up above your circumstances. You
gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to
distinguish between what is important and what is not.
Rest in My Presence, receiving Joy that no one
can take away from you. (John 16:33; 16:22)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
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
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
