Set Your Mind On Things Above!

“Set your minds on things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2)

Hey Gang: I love the little words of the Bible. I tend to think of them as trigger words; when one appears we need to take heed that a very important truth will follow. An old country preacher by the name of Pastor Mumford often said, “When you come to a ‘therefore’ in the Word, you need to stop until you understand what it is ‘there for”.

Let’s look at an example of the very small word “if” being a gigantic trigger word in a very important truth. In Colossians three we find Paul’s formula on how to change from the old man (flesh) to the new man in Christ..

He gives us a four step process: first, we must “die” to the old man
in us (vs. 3); second, we must “put off” those things that are
offensive to God and grieve the Holy Spirit (vs. 5b-8); third, we must
fill the vacuum that is created when we dump the old by “putting on”
those things that bring honor to our Father and to our neighbor (vs.
12); and lastly, we are to “let the peace of Christ rule in our
hearts” (vs. 15-16)

But, notice in verse one, there are two trigger words that are
foundational for implementing this process with success. Notice
Paul’s trigger words therefore and if’. You must understand the
therefore and if in order to understand the trigger mechanism that
implements the “you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”. And
how does one do that? Read on: by “Setting your mind on the things
above, not on the things that are on earth”. (vs. 2)

Soooo, my young friends, it is my humble opinion that in this chapter
of Colossians, Paul gives us the formula for living a life of victory.
He closes by saying, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Now I ask you, does that not put fire in your boiler?

Blessings,

Gramps