May 16 – Since, Therefore Do

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”  - Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)

It is good to know that the “If” in verse 3:1 actually means “Since” and the recipients of this letter are those in Christ because they have been raised with Christ. This letter written by the Apostle Paul to the assembly of believers in Colossae was written in prison, like the letter to the Philippians. But it has a very different message for us.  An important purpose Paul has in writing this letter, among others, was to refute the false teaching that was threatening this congregation of Christ followers. Also Paul was setting forth the absolute supremacy and sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ.  To encourage the members of the Colossae church to turn away from the false teachers in their midst.  Paul reminds them of their union with Christ. He also urged them to continue living in keeping with their position in Christ.  It is the promise in this verse that should motivate them and us to seek the better things where Christ is – in heaven at God the Father’s right hand.  Those better things are promised to all who believe the Gospel.  

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July 29 – If Then Seek

“ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  Colossians 3:1 (ESV)

We are thankful for the new life which God has promised and given us when we put our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.  We are still living on earth in our human existence and can be attracted to things which are fleshly and not of God.  But our hearts can be occupied with truths of heavenly and spiritual value.  We can think of Jesus dying on the cross for us but then we realize that He is still doing something of eternal value for us as He is at God's right hand praying for us.  Yes, we can pray to God in the name of Jesus and God will hear our prayer and will help us each day.  It is very important that we keep these spiritual facts in mind every day.  We can be and are tempered to seek things of this world for our fleshly pleasure filling our minds with earthly things but we also have reason and cause to seek the things which are above with Christ and fill our minds with things that come from God.  Our promise is that Christ is seated above at God's right hand and advocating for us.  

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June 10 – There Now By Promise

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:6  (NIV)

This promise in today's verse is about our position in Christ after we have believed and received the gift of salvation which He provided for all people.  Before we believe in Jesus, we are spiritually dead in our sins,  When we choose to believe God gives us a new life.  We become one with Christ and He comes to live in us.  Our verse then reminds us what this new life really means.  After Jesus died for our sins He rose from the grave and then soon after that He ascended back to heaven.  He is with His Father as part of the heavenly realms.  We are part of that because we are in Christ.  So where Christ is, so are we spiritually.  We are physically here on this earth as long as we are alive in our earthly bodies but our spiritual position is with Christ even in heaven.  We have front row seats reserved as part of our inheritance and in Christ we are there now by promise because of Him. 

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May 12 – Cannot Compare

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:6-7 (NIV)

Today we have selected another passage which tells us how our God has wonderful plans for us and they include what He is doing with us, His children, these days. God has brought us into His family, making for us a place with Jesus in heaven, and He wants this to demonstrate something very important. And now that we are a part of His family He can be very kind in His treatment of us. When He treats in a kind and loving way, He demonstrates how rich His grace is because we don't deserve such treatment at all. It is all by His grace and mercy that He does this for us. Has God been kind to you, His child? If so, that is part of His plan to show how rich His grace is. It's as our verse says that he might show what is incomparable – the unlimited extent of grace through kindness, lovingkindness. 

January 15

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  Colossians 3:1 (NIV)

These are words of encouragement for anyone of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and have become children of God. Our verse today is for God’s children urging us to remember what Jesus is doing for us every day. Jesus died for us making it possible for us to become children of God. When he returned to heaven after his death and resurrection He took His place at His Father’s side. Today He is there praying for us and this makes a tremendous difference for us. Our verse reminds us not to forget that up there in heaven Jesus is praying for us while we are living here on earth. We are connected by our new birth and eternal life. Remember today what our verse reminds us to do, “set your hearts on things above where Christ is.”