Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11   Commentary

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (Colossians 3:1,2, NLT).

Observation:

Having a new life entails having a new perspective. All of our being must belong to Christ, not just our spirit. Therefore, we keep our intellect focused on Christ, the true Reality. We slay the mind-corrupting sins of lying, anger, rage, malice, slander, and dirty language (v.8, 9). We rein in our physical bodies and put to death body-corrupting sins of sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed (v.5, 6). Our own efforts are inadequate to the task (Colossians 2:23). We must be renewed by Christ as we grow in knowledge of our Creator. Knowledge of him transform us body, mind, and spirit.

Application:

An old saying describes someone as being “so heavenly minded he’s no earthly good.” Yet these verses stand in direct challenge. If I am not heavenly minded, I have no good at all. There is only one Reality and that is Christ. No human ideas, approaches, or life goals—as sensible and reasonable as they may seem to me—can measure up to the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). If I lose sight of the heavenly Reality, then I have no share in Christ’s glory when at last his truth is revealed.

Prayer:

Father, keep my sights firmly fixed on your Son. Grant me your grace to walk in his way. Open my eyes to the leading of your Spirit. Cleanse me from my sin. Grow me in knowledge of you. Renew me so that I may be whole body, mind, and spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.