"So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand o God. Set your minds on what is above, no on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature.... "
- Colossians 3:1-5
Given today's culture, media, and even religions, it's easy to get our mind's set on the things on this earth, both figuratively and literally. Not just our minds, but our eyes, our hearts, our spirit, pulled straight off Christs heart and brought into selfishness and distractions. We get drawn directly into coveting, lying, anger, greed, jealously, lust, selfishness, sexual immorality, slander, cutting words, etc... We see it on TV, from sports, to sitcoms, to movies. We hear it in music from rock, to country, and hiphop, and we read it in the newspaper and magazines every day.
It's time to "put to death what belongs to the worldly nature..."
How do we do that? Well, it starts with "setting your minds on what is above, not what is on the earth." We do this by reading Scritpure, by praying to our Messiah who has raised us with Him and whom has hidden our life with Him for eternity. If we are setting our minds on things above, we are separating ourselves from sin, and fleeing the desires of the sinful nature. Additionally, we are humbly admitting our sin and asking forgiveness. We're being transparent, and not puffed up and prideful; we are puutting others before ourselves in order to love them as Christ did. We are seeking to walk in the Spirit! (Eph 5:18, Gal 5:20-22)
It starts each day with spending time with the LORD, asking for Him to use you and to intercede before our Father in Heaven for you, to surrender yourself as His each day. It's taking time in scripture and using it to test your mind, heart, and actions. It's spending time in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ and spending time sharing and loving those who don't believe in our God. In Colossians 4:2-6 Paul says, "Devote yourselves to prayer; say alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person." I couldn't say it better myself... who could!?
It was just today that I caught wind of a guy named Alex Eklund on facebook who coined the quote "I'd rather have a Proverbs 31 woman than a victoria's secret model.".. Now, to some men, this might seem like an easy thing to say, but to the majority population of males in this world, that is a very difficult thing to say. That is why I wanted to share this, it is the perfect example of setting your mind on the things above and not what is on the earth. This whole time the earth would point us in the opposite direction of Proverbs 31. Way to be Alex!
One of my favorite hymns is Before the Throne. It is powerfully integrated with scripture! As you reflect on these scriptures mentioned above, please take some time and listen to this song.
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