1-“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2-Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3-For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4-When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
In the previous post, we covered the first verse of this passage where we are instructed to set seek those “things” which are above. Now we look at verse 2, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” The word used here in the Greek text for “affection” means “to have the understanding to think, judge, observe, direct the mind to, see for, care for.” We would naturally turn to the word “mind” the Greek word does mean that, but also includes the heart, the soul. So really we could accurately say, “Set your entire being to love and think about things above, not on things here on earth.” It points us to spend our time in the Spiritual sphere of existence.
We live in both spheres. The natural, and the Spiritual. We make a moment by moment choice as to where that affection and thinking goes. For most of us, even all our time working with the Lord, prayer, etc… including our worship, is spent thinking and talking to Him about here. We need to really consider what we are to be doing with our time here. There will come the time when our existence is in that sphere and there only. For now, we occupy both. So the challenge the Holy Spirit is giving us is to develop our spirits in Him so thoroughly that we are able to take all ques and instructions from there and operate there more freely than here. To learn that when we read the Word, we see in the Spirit instead of just working to apply it here, let us get to where we can “see” the reality of the Word there in Him – then we can rightly live out the instruction in the now.
Beloved this is huge! If we were to take this seriously, it would totally rearrange our priorities. We need to not only consider this but to take advantage of the invitation to do it! It will remake us – from the inside out into people of God’s love and God’s power in our Lord Jesus.
This is not an “I hope you will consider it” approach. The Holy Spirit has given us direct instructions to do it!
Next post we will look at verse 4 where we are told why. It is a biggie too, but for now, let’s receive the instruction of the Holy Spirit and begin to not only seek – but to set our hearts and minds there.
He continues to call.
Yes, Lord, we hear and follow. I know you are giving us instructions for real-life – eternal. In your strength, we accept the call, voice, and direction. Trusting You to continue to show us how.
Mannaword 