Bible League: Living His Word 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.According to the Apostle Paul in our verse for today, Christians have been "raised with Christ." This refers to their spiritual resurrection from the deadness of sin. And Paul says that, given this spiritual resurrection, we should "seek the things that are above" and we should "set our minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on the earth." What does it mean to seek the things that are above? It means that we should seek the good things that come from heaven above. As Jesus put it, we should "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). That's why Paul says later in the chapter that we should put on all the qualities that come from above – qualities like compassion, kindness, humility, and meekness (Colossians 3:12-17). We seek the things that are above when we seek everything we need from the Lord for our journey here on earth. What does it mean to set our minds on things that are above? We should not only seek the Kingdom and its righteousness, we should set our minds on them. There is, in other words, a progression here. We should seek them and when we find them we should set our minds on them. Once we find the heavenly resources we need from the Lord we should set our minds on them in order to fully appropriate them for our journey here on earth. If we seek the things from above and set our minds on them, then we will not set our minds on the "things that are on the earth." To set our minds on the things that are on the earth is to set them on the evil things that come from the earth. That's why Paul says later in the chapter that we should "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5). The problem, then, is not the earth per se, but the evil things on earth that negatively affect our journey here on earth. Contrary to the familiar saying, then, the more heavenly minded we are the more earthly good we will be. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 19, 20, 21 Psalm 19 -- The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows his handiwork. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 20 -- May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 21 -- The king rejoices in your strength, O Lord! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 19:21-41 Acts 19 -- Miracles, Preaching and Riot in Ephesus NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”Insight What does Jesus want from us? Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. Challenge We can't pick and choose among Jesus' ideas and follow him selectively; we have to accept the cross along with the crown, judgment as well as mercy. We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. With our focus on Jesus, we should allow nothing to distract us from the manner of living that he calls good and true. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Exodus 16:21 They gathered manna every morning.Labour to maintain a sense of thine entire dependence upon the Lord's good will and pleasure for the continuance of thy richest enjoyments. Never try to live on the old manna, nor seek to find help in Egypt. All must come from Jesus, or thou art undone forever. Old anointings will not suffice to impart unction to thy spirit; thine head must have fresh oil poured upon it from the golden horn of the sanctuary, or it will cease from its glory. To-day thou mayest be upon the summit of the mount of God, but he who has put thee there must keep thee there, or thou wilt sink far more speedily than thou dreamest. Thy mountain only stands firm when he settles it in its place; if he hide his face, thou wilt soon be troubled. If the Saviour should see fit, there is not a window through which thou seest the light of heaven which he could not darken in an instant. Joshua bade the sun stand still, but Jesus can shroud it in total darkness. He can withdraw the joy of thine heart, the light of thine eyes, and the strength of thy life; in his hand thy comforts lie, and at his will they can depart from thee. This hourly dependence our Lord is determined that we shall feel and recognize, for he only permits us to pray for "daily bread," and only promises that "as our days our strength shall be." Is it not best for us that it should be so, that we may often repair to his throne, and constantly be reminded of his love? Oh! how rich the grace which supplies us so continually, and doth not refrain itself because of our ingratitude! The golden shower never ceases, the cloud of blessing tarries evermore above our habitation. O Lord Jesus, we would bow at thy feet, conscious of our utter inability to do anything without thee, and in every favor which we are privileged to receive, we would adore thy blessed name and acknowledge thine unexhausted love. Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 19:6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."Revelation 5:9,10 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. • "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." 1 Peter 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Isaiah 61:6 But you will be called the priests of the LORD; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession; Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 1 Corinthians 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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