COLOSSIANS 3:1-4
1Since, 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.4 When Christ, Who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4 “HOW DO WE LIVE WITH OUR HEARTS SET ON THINGS ABOVE”?
Springford Baptist Church: August 7, 2022.
What we focus our attention on greatly affects how we live life day to day.
This is intended to be so when we consider, “HOW DOES KNOWING GOD CHANGE OUR LIVES”?
You will be familiar with a saying, “He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.”
Clearly this is not what God wants our lives to be like when we are striving to have our knowing Him result in us living every moment of our lives to please Him.
Think with me what would happen if we were always gazing up as we went about our daily activities… For one thing we would miss seeing and interacting with people around us. We definitely would not be safe for driving. If walking we would constantly be tripping over everything in our path. It would be very strange to have a conversation with someone while not looking at them. If you and I were always looking up then there are so many important things we would miss seeing and noticing. We would not be looking into the eyes of people that we love and who love us.
It cannot be God’s design for us to live so focused on things above that we neglect the gift of life here and now.
What then does it mean for us to focus on God in how we live while at the same time being fully engaged with people and circumstances immediately around us?
“HOW DO WE LIVE WITH OUR HEARTS FOCUSED ON THINGS ABOVE”?
Perhaps you can think of someone you know or have known whose life reflects a balance between having their heart set on things above and being fully involved with the day to day opportunities that God provides. Christ Jesus lived life like this.
There is a reason that Paul in Colossians implores that these Christians believers set their hearts on things above. He writes,
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” (Colossians 3:1)
This Scripture really emphasizes that because we believe in Jesus Christ God’s Son Who has raised us from the death of sin and given us new life, we need to keep on focus on Him.
When we set our hearts on things above, we are setting our hearts on Christ. He has overcome and when our focus is on Him, when our hearts are set on Him, we too can expect to overcome.
Jesus has ascended to sit on the right hand of God and this demonstrates that He has been given victory over sin. We too can experience victory over sin when we are looking to Jesus.
With our hearts set on Christ, we are able to see life through His eyes and with His perspective. He can guide us in every step that we take.
We may pray first thing in the morning, “Lord guide my steps all through this day.” Then we will need to keep our attention focused on Jesus so that is exactly what happens in the thoughts we have, the words we speak, the attitudes we display, and in every action.
When we reflect back over a particular day, we will be able to notice that the times we slipped and did not follow the steps we know God wanted for us, were the times that we took our eyes off of Jesus.
Paul writes about having both our hearts and minds set on things above. In Colossians 3:2, he emphasizes, “Set your minds on things above…”
When our hearts are set on things above, on Jesus, then our love and commitment to Him affects everything we do.
I recently married a young couple and to see them gazing into each other’s eyes, their love for and commitment to each other was sincere and obvious. That continued focus of love and commitment is what will keep them together in their marriage.
Our continued love and commitment to Jesus is what will keep us in close relationship with Him.
This determined commitment does involve our minds too. It is a daily decision to follow Jesus and our minds remind us that we have chosen to live our lives for Him.
Other concerns and priorities could distract us and threaten us giving Jesus the first place in our lives that He deserves.
Colossians 3:3 emphasizes, “For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” This refers to the death of our old self because we have been given new life with Christ and through Christ.
No matter how old any of us is, we should expect to be living new life, living in new ways that please God because our hearts and minds are focused on Jesus.
Our Lord Jesus can guide us every day in living our lives as a result of focusing on things above, focusing on Him.
Jesus went to the cross for us to make this possible. We are not controlled by an old life of sin that gives no thought to God and the things of God. Instead, we are to set our hearts on things above where Christ is. We are to set our hearts on Jesus Christ Who will make it possible for us to live lives that do accomplish earthly good and then one day to anticipate that when Christ returns, we will be gathered to be with Him in the glory of His Father where He has prepared a place for us.
Communion is once again an affirmation of the love of God expressed for us in the giving of His Son Jesus. When our hearts and minds are set on Jesus, we will choose to live our lives for Him!