Heavenly Minded, Earthly Use
Opening Prayer
Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you today (Psa. 19:14).
Read Colossians 3:1–11
Since, 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.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
What difference would it make if you lived each day as if it were your last?“We believe in life before death.” This is a slogan used by a well-known Christian organization, emphasizing that the Christian message has an immediate application as well as a future hope. And who could argue with this? That some Christians are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use is an observation often made, arguing for practical, no-nonsense Christianity. Paul, however, urges his readers to set their hearts and minds on things that are above—not because the things that are below are bad or inferior, but because they are limited.
The beguiling ideas now infecting the Colossian church are earthbound as far as Paul is concerned. Their proponents are laying down restrictive rules and religious expectations mixed in with human philosophy. Using the language of baptism and discipleship, Paul says that they have died with Christ and they are now joined to him in his resurrected life. Stripped of their old earthbound identity they are now free to live radically different lives. In fact, their lives are in a
state of constant renewal because of Jesus’ presence in them. They can make a serious difference in the world.
Apply
Are there parts of your life in need of renewal and change, a fresh sense of Jesus’ presence? Submit yourself to God today.
Closing prayer
Draw near to Christ today and ask him to refresh you.
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