Way out there
Colossians 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
I sat here in pre-5am silence; the road closure and the early hour brought a rare stillness this morning. It has already passed; God blessed me with that quiet time with him today; awakening me earlier than usual. So much is on my heart, so many avenues my mind travels down even in the early mornings. I could fill up much more than this page of the things going on in my life; no different from yours, just my own list. This time of year the work load is my biggest battle; it commands my attention and creeps in even in my early mornings with God. It is not the only thing that tries to steal my focus, but it certainly steals my joy in these moments of prayer and scripture study. It is only one of the many distractions that Satan uses to take our minds off the things above; all of them are distractions from him, all of them are meant to get us to take our eyes off Christ and to the stresses or worries of what is seemingly troubling us.
Paul repeatedly points to the centrality of Christ in his letter to the Colossians. There were doctrinal errors and false teachings that were creeping into the church. There were many that were being led astray by these false teachers. Paul then gets to the practical application side of things in Colossians 3; he tells us of how we are to live as Christians. He speaks of the “old man” before Christ, and the “new man” in Christ. He speaks of how we are to not live our lives as before, but to pursue holiness with a life focused on the eternal, and not the temporal. Satan always tugs your mind to the temporal; the problem at hand in an effort to steal your joy in your hope for eternity. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
It is so simple what Paul is truly saying; “You are a new man in Christ, act like one.” God has laid such a burden on my heart these last couple of weeks towards sacrificial living; the true life of a disciple.Satan has planted all the distractions to take my eyes off it. The battle rages, but the war is won. Paul is pointing to the life that is lived in that pursuit of holiness, is a life that leaves behind the pursuit of sin and the pleasures found in it and of this world. Do you live for the temporary or the eternal? The eternal focus demands a true heart’s desire for Christ and the things of God. Satan can easily take your eyes off the eternal if your not spending daily time seeking God in his Word and prayer. Make today a day that you live for tomorrow……..eternally.
oneminuteministry 