BACKGROUND:
In these final two chapters of Colossians, Paul moved into the practical application of the doctrines he had been teaching. We must keep in mind that the pagan religions of Paul’s day said little about personal morality. A worshiper could bow before an idol, put his offering on the altar, and go right back to his immoral life. What a person believed had no direct relationship with how he behaved, and no one would condemn him for his behavior.
Col. 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Remember that we were dead in our sins and when we believed in God’s son Jesus as our Lord and Savior we were raised with Christ to eternal life. As Christians, we must seek those things that are above always as we live daily.
Col. 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
This means to concentrate our concerns on the eternal, not the temporal.
What is seen is temporary; what is unseen is eternal.2 Cor. 4:18 reads, “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
To set our minds is to learn to focus and dismiss distractions.Demas broke his focus and set his mind on that which was valued by this world (2 Tim. 4:10).
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Col. 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The story is told of two sisters who enjoyed attending dances and wild parties. Then they were converted and found new life in Christ. They received an invitation to a party and sent their RSVP in these words: “We regret that we cannot attend because we recently died.”
The Christian life is a hidden life as far as the world is concerned, because the world does not know Christ nor understand this life.
The things that should attract and excite us must belong to heaven—not earth. Our kingdom is no longer of this world; we are hidden in Christ and we do not conform to this world.
Col. 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
When Jesus returns in physical glory, seen by all including unbelivers, they will also see the “dead in Christ” and “those who were alive and remained” coming with Him.
They too will be seen in glory, having just received their new bodies during the rapture (1 Thes. 4:13-18).
This truth should motivate us to live among unbelievers whose standards should not matter to us at all,but as we live we should live by glorifying God in all circumstances and witnessing to the world that we share here on earth the eternal standards to the glory of God.Amen
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