"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4
Where you set your focus is where you'll find your heart. I'm sure we've all heard that before. Our minds are a powerful thing. God designed us this way, after His image, to be not just thinkers but doers. This is what makes Paul's reminder in Colossians so special - he asks us to set our minds on Christ, not occasionally or sporadically but ALWAYS!
Jesus is our unchanging true north and we are to set our compass towards Him.
When Paul says, "If then you have been raised with Christ...", he is reminding us that if we are found in Jesus, we are a new creatures. Which means we are no longer tied to the earthly chains of sin and shame. Jesus has made us "born again".
We have been raised.
Our identity is found only in Him!
So why then would our gaze be on the things below? Lift your gaze to Jesus Christ! The one seated at the right hand of God.
It's so easy to find ourselves caught up in the worldly drama and pressures in our lives. After all, we live it! This isn't something that Jesus doesn't understand. The onslaught of problems that we face on a daily basis from relationship issues, work stress, financial burdens, emotional weight; depression, loneliness, isolation. It can be all too easy to get wrapped up in those things and let them consume us.
As Christians, we aren't asked to ignore those problems. We go through the same problems as anyone else. We are however asked not to fix our gaze on them. They can't be what we focus on.
I would say the same about earthly blessings and comforts of this life. For example, when the promotion at work becomes your sole focus, that can also be a stumbling block to take the focus off of Christ.
It's important that we remember everything on this earth, whether good or bad, is temporary. Jesus Christ is eternal.
So when you set your mind on things above:
You view your struggles in light of eternity
You measure your decisions against God's kingdom values, not the world's approval.
You remember that Christ is seated, ruling, reigning and unshaken.
You focus on the One who never changes, even when everything else does.
Today, set your mind on Christ Jesus. Lift your gaze upwards. Do this every single day. The word "set" in Greek implies "continual, active pursuit". That's why becoming a Christian is NOT a one and done, say a prayer and you're good to go, never needing to think about it again, kind of thing. It's a daily walk with Jesus. It takes intentional action on your part. Be in God's word, pray continually, surround yourself with people who will be in both of those things with you and redirect your thoughts when they wander. Most importantly, remember where Christ is - He's not just above our location, He's above in authority. He's seated in victory.
Anchor yourself to Him today.
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