DEVOTION – DAY 307

Colossians 3:2-3 “Set Our Minds On Things Above”

 

Colossians 3:2-3 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

 

Christians often experience a life of tension. On the one hand, they know they are to live a life that is Christ-like. On the other hand, they are often surrounded by worldly influences that encourage them to behave in worldly and un-Christ like manner. But Colossians 3:1-3 remind Christians that when they identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ, they are to set their hearts and minds on things above. What are things above? They are values, attitudes and actions that the Bible instructs Christians to have – the same values, attitudes and actions that Jesus Christ, Himself shown, as recorded in the Bible. Jesus always obeyed the Father’s Will. Jesus prayed to the Father frequently. Jesus showed compassion and love to others. Jesus was selfless. These are just some examples that Christians should follow when they are called to set their minds on things above. We are also reminded that our old sinful nature had died when we decided to follow Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As Christians, we are now raised to a new life in Christ. That is why we are to live a Christ-like life.

 

A woman who came from a poor family had learnt to be thrifty. She saved what money she could so that her children could have a better future. Slowly, she managed to safe enough to send her children to college. She even saved enough so that she could afford a small home of her own when she was too old to work. But her plans were disrupted when one of her siblings developed a serious illness that needed medical treatment. Her sibling could not afford the treatment without the rest of the family’s financial help. This woman struggled with whether to help her sibling or not. She was torn between helping her sibling and keeping her savings to herself. Her sin nature would have her hold tight to her savings but her new nature in Christ made her realize that she must be prepared to use her savings to help those in need, including her own sibling. She realized that her security must rest on Christ and not on her savings. She had to learn to let go of her savings if she had to, in order to help pay for her sibling’s medical treatment. She was learning to live a life in Christ, and setting her mind on things above.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for raising us to a new life in Christ. Please help us to set our hearts and minds on things above, and not on earthly things. We humbly ask this in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What do you set your hearts and minds on daily? Is it on earthly things or on things above? Share.
  2. How can you purpose to set your hearts and minds on things above? Discuss.
  3. Share an example when you had to choose between doing something that pleases God or to satisfy the desires of your earthly nature.
  4. Why is it important for Christians to set their hearts on things above and not on earthly things? Discuss.