Today, let's read Colossians 3:1-17. Ask God to show you how to “set your heart on the things above, not on earthly things.” What does this look like for you?
To set our minds on the things above is to live for godly purposes. Colossians 3:17 says that “whatever we do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In this passage, Paul calls us to repent of the things of the flesh (our earthly nature) and put on godly behaviors. He includes long lists showing us the fruit of our old self versus the fruit of our new self. As our focus is on the things of this world -values, ambitions and goals of this world), the result in our lives will be sinful practices. But as we focus on the things above (bringing glory and honor to God, worship, serving the Lord, fulfilling His Kingdom purposes in our lives, obedience to the Word, loving God and loving others, letting our ambitions in life to be pleasing to the Lord,- we will display godly behaviors.
-Are there any behaviors or thought patterns in your life right now that the Holy Spirit convicted you of as you read Colossians 3:1-17? Engage in those with Him. Speak honestly about any resistance you might be feeling or guilt or shame. Ask the Lord to purify your heart and bring you to a place of repentance if you did not experience that immediately. He will do it; ask Him.
We are not of this world. Peter says that we are aliens of this world (1 Peter 2:11). Our citizenship is in heaven. He tells us to live a life so different from the world that others will see our good deeds and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12). As we find true satisfaction in life from God, others will acknowledge the emptiness in their souls and seek out our “secret to contentment.”
-What does it mean for you to “set your mind on the things above?”
God does not just desire to satisfy our souls because He loves us and wants us to experience joy, but He brings contentment as we carry out lives that bring glory to His name.
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