Where Is Your Mind?

“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” (Col 3:2). “Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind Me Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).

Hey Gang: I might have mentioned this before, but it is worthy of mentioning again and again: 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 to the new:

He gives us a four step process, first, we must die to self, 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. “Therefore” and “if”.  In Colossians three Paul begins the change process with a prerequisite, “Therefore, if , 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? By “setting your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth”.  (vs. 2).

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” (v.17).

I have always wondered if Paul did this teaching on “Putting on the New Self” (verses 1-17) to set the table for the teaching on “Family Relationships” that follows.  He gives some very specific rules for living together in a compatible way in verse eighteen through the end of the chapter. 

Do you think that during the exchanging of the marriage vows each would commit to dying to self and placing their mate first, putting off all those things that are offensive to their mate and putting on forgiveness, compassion, love and even at times mercy and letting the Holy Spirit have control of their marriage that we would have fewer marriage failures?   

As I grow nearer to celebrating my sixtieth year of wedlock with the mate that the Lord gave to me, I have a sadness in my heart for all those who will never experience the ‘out of sight joy’ of standing at the altar and seeing their bride coming down the aisle to be united in oneness with each other and Oneness with Christ.  Nor will they enjoy the wondrous gift of ‘anticipation’ that comes-as you grow together.

Blessings,

Gramps