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 Psalm 102:13, 14 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favor the dust thereof.A selfish man in trouble is exceedingly hard to comfort, because the springs of his comfort lie entirely within himself, and when he is sad all his springs are dry. But a large-hearted man full of Christian philanthropy, has other springs from which to supply himself with comfort beside those which lie within. He can go to his God first of all, and there find abundant help; and he can discover arguments for consolation in things relating to the world at large, to his country, and, above all, to the church. David in this Psalm was exceedingly sorrowful; he wrote, "I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top." The only way in which he could comfort himself, was in the reflection that God would arise, and have mercy upon Zion: though he was sad, yet Zion should prosper; however low his own estate, yet Zion should arise. Christian man! learn to comfort thyself in God's gracious dealing towards the church. That which is so dear to thy Master, should it not be dear above all else to thee? What though thy way be dark, canst thou not gladden thine heart with the triumphs of his cross and the spread of his truth? Our own personal troubles are forgotten while we look, not only upon what God has done, and is doing for Zion, but on the glorious things he will yet do for his church. Try this receipt, O believer, whenever thou art sad of heart and in heaviness of spirit: forget thyself and thy little concerns, and seek the welfare and prosperity of Zion. When thou bendest thy knee in prayer to God, limit not thy petition to the narrow circle of thine own life, tried though it be, but send out thy longing prayers for the church's prosperity, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," and thine own soul shall be refreshed. Daily Light on the Daily Path Nehemiah 4:9 But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night.Matthew 26:41 "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 1 Peter 5:7-9 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. • Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. • But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. • After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. Luke 6:46 "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. Exodus 14:15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. Philippians 4:6,7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. • And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
Click for Video Devotionals     |