October 11, 2014 SEEK AND SET
Colossians 2:1-4: “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated, at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” In this verse we find two choices we must make if we are to be overcomers in life and if we are to be expressions of His kingdom on earth. First, we must set our mind on the things above where Christ is seated. It’s a no-brainer, but there are “things” above to seek after and these “things” are not vague or elusive, but are revealed in scripture and in the Spirit. The key is not to let our feelings determine whether or not we set our mind, but rather choose to set our mind regardless of how we feel at the moment. If we set our mind on things on the earth we will not know the fullness that God has for us and we will suffer loss. We are surrounded by “things on the earth” so we are to be diligent and not set our minds on things in the earth. Using things on the earth is certainly not wrong-it is a blessing to have a vehicle to drive, a house to live in and clothes to were, etc. but the key is to have our heart and mind focused on the “things above” and to be a steward of the things on earth. God gives us all things to enjoy. As we carry out our duties on earth and as we live life on earth, we are to be focused above. Second, we are instructed to “keep seeking”. There will be difficulties in life and situations to arise that may tempt us to stop seeking the things above, so we must be steadfast and not moved away from seeking the things above. Often, it is in the trials or difficulties that God reveals truth and understanding that we did not have before if we are focused on Him and we have our spirit open to what He is saying. This “seeking and setting” is all bases on our having died to ourselves and our life being hidden in Christ. As long as, or when we live for ourselves, we will not know the joy and the blessings that God has for us. It is paramount that we come to understand that Christ is our life. Either He is our life or He is not our life-there is no in between. God invites us to discover the life that we have in Him. The doorway to coming to know that Christ as our life is having a desire to know Him, being diligent in the study of the gospel and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us as only He can do. One day, Christ will be revealed to the whole world, and those who know Him as there life will be revealed with Him in glory. There is no other life than life in Him as any other life is dead compared to life in Him.
Romans 8:5-6: For those who are according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Colossians 2:1-4: “If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated, at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” In this verse we find two choices we must make if we are to be overcomers in life and if we are to be expressions of His kingdom on earth. First, we must set our mind on the things above where Christ is seated. It’s a no-brainer, but there are “things” above to seek after and these “things” are not vague or elusive, but are revealed in scripture and in the Spirit. The key is not to let our feelings determine whether or not we set our mind, but rather choose to set our mind regardless of how we feel at the moment. If we set our mind on things on the earth we will not know the fullness that God has for us and we will suffer loss. We are surrounded by “things on the earth” so we are to be diligent and not set our minds on things in the earth. Using things on the earth is certainly not wrong-it is a blessing to have a vehicle to drive, a house to live in and clothes to were, etc. but the key is to have our heart and mind focused on the “things above” and to be a steward of the things on earth. God gives us all things to enjoy. As we carry out our duties on earth and as we live life on earth, we are to be focused above. Second, we are instructed to “keep seeking”. There will be difficulties in life and situations to arise that may tempt us to stop seeking the things above, so we must be steadfast and not moved away from seeking the things above. Often, it is in the trials or difficulties that God reveals truth and understanding that we did not have before if we are focused on Him and we have our spirit open to what He is saying. This “seeking and setting” is all bases on our having died to ourselves and our life being hidden in Christ. As long as, or when we live for ourselves, we will not know the joy and the blessings that God has for us. It is paramount that we come to understand that Christ is our life. Either He is our life or He is not our life-there is no in between. God invites us to discover the life that we have in Him. The doorway to coming to know that Christ as our life is having a desire to know Him, being diligent in the study of the gospel and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us as only He can do. One day, Christ will be revealed to the whole world, and those who know Him as there life will be revealed with Him in glory. There is no other life than life in Him as any other life is dead compared to life in Him.
Romans 8:5-6: For those who are according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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