Word@Work Col27 - Colossians 3:1-2
Published: Wed, 06/29/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
CHOOSING YOUR HORIZON
Colossians 3:1-2 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Believing in Jesus is not just a journey of following a different Master. Like marriage, it starts with an immediate transition of status and then grows into a loving relationship, confident that the bond of marriage is strong and safe. In the same way, the moment that a sinner repents and receives Christ, new believers have already been raised from death to life (Romans 6:4). They are no longer under the curse of death, fearful of judgement and despairing of righteousness, because, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).
Paul tells the Colossian church to live according to its new status in Christ. Like married people, who need to spend time and effort in building their relationship, so believers should eagerly and earnestly decide to love Christ and integrate their whole lives with His purposes. Their horizon can no longer be limited to getting the best out of this life. Heaven is the horizon, and the presence of Christ is the prize. So our desires, emotions and decision-making (hearts) need to be focussed on Christ and His glory. We must also reform our thoughts, plans and strategies (minds): they must no longer be controlled by the low and deadly horizon of this world.
We need this reminder. Because we live in a sinful world and are still tempted back to it, we will crash like an aeroplane if we do not know where the true horizon is. That is inevitable if we forget that we have already been raised with Christ, because we belong to Him and our future is totally linked to Him. If we allow our hearts to desire money, pleasure, power and fame, our minds will discover ways to satisfy that hunger ... but the Lord Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36). True believers will need to struggle to meet this challenge but we have no choice if we are to be true to Christ. Therefore, first be assured that you have been raised with Christ and then determine to set your sights on heaven. That will demand courageous choices of thought patterns and lifestyle. But that is the life to which we have been called, and there is no going back.
Prayer: Almighty Lord. Thank You for the amazing privilege of being raised with Christ to a new life. Yet I confess that the pull of the world is so strong and I sometimes make choices that drag me down to an ungodly horizon. Please forgive me for not holding fast to Christ all the time, and not taking the time to think and pray about my plans and strategies in life. Help me to reshape my outlook based on Your Word and may my life at work and in the community demonstrate that I am confident of being a child of God and a citizen of heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Believing in Jesus is not just a journey of following a different Master. Like marriage, it starts with an immediate transition of status and then grows into a loving relationship, confident that the bond of marriage is strong and safe. In the same way, the moment that a sinner repents and receives Christ, new believers have already been raised from death to life (Romans 6:4). They are no longer under the curse of death, fearful of judgement and despairing of righteousness, because, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:6).
Paul tells the Colossian church to live according to its new status in Christ. Like married people, who need to spend time and effort in building their relationship, so believers should eagerly and earnestly decide to love Christ and integrate their whole lives with His purposes. Their horizon can no longer be limited to getting the best out of this life. Heaven is the horizon, and the presence of Christ is the prize. So our desires, emotions and decision-making (hearts) need to be focussed on Christ and His glory. We must also reform our thoughts, plans and strategies (minds): they must no longer be controlled by the low and deadly horizon of this world.
We need this reminder. Because we live in a sinful world and are still tempted back to it, we will crash like an aeroplane if we do not know where the true horizon is. That is inevitable if we forget that we have already been raised with Christ, because we belong to Him and our future is totally linked to Him. If we allow our hearts to desire money, pleasure, power and fame, our minds will discover ways to satisfy that hunger ... but the Lord Jesus said, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36). True believers will need to struggle to meet this challenge but we have no choice if we are to be true to Christ. Therefore, first be assured that you have been raised with Christ and then determine to set your sights on heaven. That will demand courageous choices of thought patterns and lifestyle. But that is the life to which we have been called, and there is no going back.
Prayer: Almighty Lord. Thank You for the amazing privilege of being raised with Christ to a new life. Yet I confess that the pull of the world is so strong and I sometimes make choices that drag me down to an ungodly horizon. Please forgive me for not holding fast to Christ all the time, and not taking the time to think and pray about my plans and strategies in life. Help me to reshape my outlook based on Your Word and may my life at work and in the community demonstrate that I am confident of being a child of God and a citizen of heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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