Verse of the Day 1/14

 

Colossians 3:2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse seems like a simple, straight forward verse.  Unfortunately, the carrying out of it is not so simple.  Yesterday we considered the question Jesus asked of the lame man, "do you want to be made well"?  He instructed the man to pick up his mat and go.  The man had to take Jesus words and act upon them.  He had to set his mind on doing what Jesus called him to do.  While Jesus did the healing, the man had to act upon it.  It wasn't totally passive.  It started with believing what Jesus said, what Jesus called him to do.

John Piper writes, "I sense that many of us have become far too passive in our pursuit of change and wholeness and peace. I have the feeling that in our therapeutic age we have fallen into the passive mindset of simply "talking through our problems" or "dealing with our issues" or "discovering the roots of our brokenness in our family of origin.  But I see a much more aggressive, non-passive approach to change in the New Testament. Namely, set your mind."

We tend to search for a reason for the condition that we are in, whether it be circumstances, genetics, or how we were raised.  The recommendation, the call from the Apostle Paul is not to focus on the past and not to passively wait for better days, but to set our minds on the things above.  The things of God.  Where do we find it?  In His Word.  If you are not on a Bible reading plan, perhaps you could start.  Or pick a book of the Bible perhaps one of the gospels.  Perhaps a message from Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 -7.  His Word will show you "things from above" that are not normal in this world.  "So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ" (The Message) apply His word and you will be on your way to the change that you may desire.

Romans 8:5-6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.⁶ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  New King James Version (NKJV)

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

Colossians 3:1-4The Message (MSG)

He Is Your Life

3 ^1-2 So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, actl ike it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

^3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.