"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT TO SEEK"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WHAT TO SEEK"

Colossians 3:1 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Colossians 3:4 “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

(Taken from today's reading in the One Year Bible 10/7/14)

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

These verses are from a very practical part of the letter to the Colossians. Normally Paul will start a letter with explaining doctrinal truths as he has done in this letter, and then towards the middle or end of the letter teach on a very practical level. How to live the new life that we have in Christ. And that is what he is doing here. In fact, he is telling us here what we are to be seeking. These are wonderful verses directing us to the God who loves us, and has promised to reveal Himself to all who seek Him in sincerity and truth.

1. Christians have been raised with Christ.

Colossians 3:1 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”

The word "if" here actually means, "since" So, Paul is stating a fact that is true of every truly born again believer in Jesus Christ.
Believers have been raised into a new life with Christ.
Our old lives are over and all things have become new now that we are born again.
This first part of verse 1, becomes the platform that Paul is going to build on as he instructs us about what to seek and how to live.

2. Christians are called to seek those things that are above.

Colossians 3:1 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”

As Christians there are many things we can seek
Paul is directing us as to what to seek.
He calls it seeking those things that are above.
Or to set our sights on the realities of heaven.

3. Christians can, and are, called to set their minds in a certain place.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Paul gets a little more specific here.
He make a comparison about what to seek, and what not to seek.
He is encouraging us to let heaven fill our thoughts.
And, he is encouraging us not to only let the things of this earth fill our minds.
Look up and seek what is above.
That's where God wants us to place our thoughts.

4. Christians have died, and are now alive in Christ and have a glorious future ahead of them.

Colossians 3:3 “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:4 “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Christians are said to have died, and yet they live.
We died when we placed our faith in Christ.
And we were born again when we placed our faith in Christ.
We are now alive in Christ.
In fact our lives are hidden with Christ in God.
We are safely in Christ and in God as it were.

And, here's the best part.
It's what's coming to those who are in Christ.
Jesus is coming back.
And when Jesus comes back and appears, we will appear with Him in glory.
We will then reign and rule with Him on the earth for 1000 years.

What a glorious new life we have in Christ.
What a glorious location to focus our thoughts on.
What a glorious person we are to look at.
What a glorious future awaits all true Christians.

Some Questions:

1. Do you ever wonder what to do with your mind and your thoughts?

2. Do you ever wish your mind was stronger and more filled with joy and peace?

3. Do you realize that God is inviting you to set your mind on Him?

4. Do you know that Jesus Christ views you as His friend and He wants to commune with you?

A Prayer:

Father, thank You for what You have done in giving us new life. Our old life is over. All of our sins have been forgiven. We are now in Christ, and in God and are bound for heaven. We are not only bound for heaven itself, but when Jesus returns we are going to be returning with Him. What glory awaits all true believers. Lord, You want us to behold Your glory, and one day we will. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.