Good morning and good Monday. I hope you all had a great weekend and you are excited to launch into this week, no matter what God may have you doing. Margie and I had a great weekend starting with Friday night. We headed over to the SMU area and getting there early, we hung out at NorthPark mall for a bit since it was so close to where we were going for our party. We missed traffic and even got a parking spot at the mall…barely. We had a fantastic dinner at Maggiano’s and really enjoyed walking around the mall. It was all decorated for Christmas and we even got to hear a local High School ensemble sing Christmas carols. They were so talented, it really just touched the soul to hear Christ exalted in a mall.
No matter what the decorations may be at this time of the year, I choose to see Christ. Christmas is about Christ and whether it’s a reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh or a song about a White Christmas, I choose to see Christ in the images and messages I hear. Even those that don’t know Christ can see some kind of a message at this time of the year, hence the world’s love of the season. I think it’s God’s way of keeping His Son at the forefront, even almost 2000 years later.
This morning we get the awesome privilege of looking at Colossians 3. This is a fantastic book and really gets down to the where the rubber meets the road as far as walking in this world as a follower of Christ. In fact, Marge and I have adopted today’s verse as a sort of life verse lately in dealing with the frustrations of the daily walk. Let’s look at Colossians 3:1-2
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col 3:1-2
I’m going to say something very obvious now. It’s so easy for us to get tied up in and embroiled down here on the planet Earth. I mean really, think about it. We’re born here, raised here, study here, live here, travel here, raise families here, it’s all we know. I think its safe to say that we know this planet pretty good. We know of our lives here pretty good. But this commandment is jarring. It should make us really better understand the world we live in and who is living in it. If we are all sinners by nature and there has only been one perfect person to ever touch the soil of this planet, then we can deduce that this world has only ever been inhabited by imperfect people. So, if we are to seek to be like Christ, is there anything on this planet that we should emulate? Well, no. Not one. Hence our study verse today, “Set your minds on the things above, not on the things of Earth.
So, you would think that in order to keep your mind on the things above that you would do simply that. Just keep your mind on the things above. But God’s Word is amazing in that it works in the inverse, not just one level. You see, if you are going to focus on the things above, you need to be aware of the things of this world as well. In order to be where you want to be, you have to avoid where you don’t want to be.
So lets attack it this way, lets look at the things of this world first and then the things above. We are told in Cor 3:5 that we are to “put to death what is Earthly in you.” Those are powerful words. Think of an executioner putting someone to death. It is a deliberate act that results in the person no longer thriving with life. These things are to be placed out of our lives with the finality of death, never to exist again.
The things of Earth:
Sexual immorality – pretty straight forward. This can be anything that defiles or perverts sex from the way that God meant it to be used. Between a husband and a wife within the bonds of marriage.
Impurity – Unclean thoughts, words, looks, gestures and even jokes we tell.
Passion – uncontrolled passion or lust.
Evil desires – seeking after immorality, depravity and wicked things.
Covetousness/idolatry – means when we must always have more. We can covet money, people, position, power, material items and even family. Idolatry is anything that creates distance in the relationship between us and God.
Anger – There is a place for anger that is justified. This is speaking of a sinful anger which is becoming angry over the wrong things.
Wrath – Anger becomes wrath when we have an unforgiving spirit.
Malice – Anger that has been nursed along. This is a long slow burning anger that grows over time.
Slander – making a false statement about someone that damages their character.
Obscene talk – foul communication. Includes both abusive and that which is filthy.
Lying – Speech devoid of the truth.
Now let’s look at the things above where we are to “keep our minds”
Compassionate hearts – you should have a genuine love that brings forth concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of those around us.
Kindness – to be helpful to others.
Humility – a modest or low view of yourself compared to others.
Meekness - Being submissive in love to Christ as well as others.
Patience – longsuffering or long-burning. We shouldn’t have a short fuse with others.
Bearing with one another – empathy, sharing others burdens as if they were your own.
Forgiveness – letting go of anger, bitterness or resentment towards someone for their actions towards you. It specifically says to forgive others as Christ forgave you. That means we are to forgive others of EVERYTHING.
Love – This is one of my favorite verses in God’s Word. “And above all these put on Love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” So beautiful, yet so strong. Above all we are to love one another and that will cause us to walk together as one body in perfect harmony. Not just in the same key or in a nice melody, but in PERFECT harmony.
Peace – Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. That’s peace in our hearts from Christ as we extend that peace to others.
Be thankful – having thankfulness in your heart to God for all of His goodness, mercy and grace.
Wow, what a list. We are told to keep our mind on these things, the things above and what a powerful list it is. Imagine a world where these were held in high esteem by all. What a world it would be indeed.
Paul closes out the verse with another powerful statement that we need so desperately today to keep our minds on.
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Cor 3:16a
Oh how sweet this is. To dwell means to live in. Let the Word of God live in you. When you truly consume the Word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit it will live inside of you. People say that miracles don’t happen or that they have never seen a miracle, but it happens every time you truly take in the Glory of God’s Holy Word. The Holy Spirit makes the living Word of God real to us and it becomes a part of us. It guides us, speaks to us, consoles us, rebukes us and teaches us. There is nothing else on this Earth that can change us like the Word of God. Our study this morning has been to keep our minds on the things above, yet ironically God left His Word here for us on this planet. It’s the one thing on this Earth that we can rely on for pure Truth. It’s the Truth of God. Keep your minds on the things above and keep your minds on the Word of God. Let it dwell in you richly.
I pray today that your personal time in God’s Word was as amazing as mine. I pray that you not only see the Words in your mind but you feel the Words in your heart. And it should be there that they live.
Praise God for His Word, keep your minds on the things above.
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