Living a Life Fixed on Christ
Set Your Heart on Things Above
Loving for What Will Last Forever
Reflection on Colossians 3:1-4
“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. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4, NIV)
Paul’s exhortation in this passage calls believers to live in light of their new identity in Christ. Having been raised with Him, we are no longer bound by the priorities of this world but are called to fix our hearts and minds on heavenly realities.
Raised with Christ: A New Perspective
Paul begins with a reminder that believers have been “raised with Christ.” This resurrection with Christ is both a spiritual reality and a call to action. Walter Brueggemann describes this new life as “a life oriented toward God’s purposes, in contrast to a world that orients itself toward self-interest.” We are to lift our gaze beyond the temporary and focus on eternal truths, where Christ reigns in glory.
Setting Our Hearts and Minds on Things Above
Paul emphasizes both the heart and the mind: “Set your hearts on things above” and “Set your minds on things above.” Eugene Peterson paraphrases this in The Message: “Pursue the things over which Christ presides.” Our desires, ambitions, and thoughts should be shaped by the reality of Christ’s lordship, not by earthly distractions. This doesn’t mean abandoning life’s responsibilities but living with an eternal perspective, seeking first God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33).
A Life Hidden with Christ
“Your life is now hidden with Christ in God” signifies the security and intimacy believers have in their union with Christ. Charles Spurgeon reflects, “We are so united with Him that where He is, there we are, and what He has, we share.” To be hidden in Christ means that our true identity and purpose are found in Him, protected by His grace until His return.
Glory to Come
Paul concludes with the promise of future glory: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” This future hope shapes how we live now. Our lives, though often hidden and unnoticed by the world, will one day be revealed in glory when Christ returns. John Stott reminds us that “what is now hidden will one day be fully revealed, and we will share in the glory of Christ forever.”
Application
1. Focus on eternal priorities – Regularly align your heart and mind with God’s purposes through prayer and meditation on His Word.
2. Live with Christ as your center – Let your identity in Christ shape your daily decisions and interactions.
3. Hold fast to the hope of glory – In difficult times, remember that your life is secure in Christ, and a glorious future awaits.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for raising me with Christ and hiding my life in You. Help me to set my heart and mind on things above, living each day with eternal purpose. Strengthen me to reflect Your glory now, as I await the fullness of Your coming. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment