1If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7You also once walked in those, when you lived in them, 8but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. 9Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, 10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator, 11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
14Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
18Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.
20Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
21Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. 23And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.
Seek the Things that Are Above
Colossians 3 Part One
Seek The Things that Are Above
3 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.
I have some startling news for you. Reader, you no longer belong to you. You were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ). You now belong to Jesus. You were crucified with Christ, meaning as a believer, you have died to self. Paul gives explicit instructions on what you are to do now, having been raised together with Christ. You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), so what does that mean? You must center your life around God’s agenda, and that should take precedence over your own agenda. That means first, you must redirect your thoughts to the “things that are above”. Those things are those which God is doing in the spiritual realm. Paul fleshes this out in Philippians chapter four when he instructs,
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 WEB)
When you focus your mind on those things, it will automatically remove your thoughts from “things that are on the earth” —the baser things. You will begin to see people as God sees them. Instead of looking at them with a critical eye, you will see them more and more with the mind of Christ. As a pastor, people sometimes criticize me, saying, “You just aren’t able to see the bad in people.” They couldn’t be more wrong about that. I can see the bad in people, but when I put on the mind of Christ, I think I see them as God does. I see all that they can or could be if they submit themselves to God’s transformational power. I guess I see them as the best version of themselves. Perhaps I err on that side, but I’d rather make those sorts of errors than to be suspicious of each and every move of those around me. It’s easy to see others' faults. It’s hard to see our own faults. Your life begins to be hidden with Christ when you start to see what God is doing around you, including in the people with whom you come into contact. Reader, today focus on the things above. Be hidden in Christ Jesus.