If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
How often do we focus on setting our hearts on things above rather than on things of this world? Sometimes we get distracted. We are distracted by our jobs, family, and friends. These are all physical things that we can touch and see that bring comfort to our lives. Do we ever stop and think about God and who He is and what His plan is for you and me? One can see God in His creation anytime you take a step outside. You can see God in the goodness of this world and in your brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes it may seem hard to find good in the world, but it is there. God is everything that is good. I want to set my heart and my affections on things above, don’t you?
Your identity in Christ is something you always need to remember. You are not defined by this world and what it says about you. Who you are in the eyes of God is totally different from the way the world sees you. Peer pressure, the way you look, the way you dress, to God you are sanctified or set apart. I Thessalonians 4: 3-5 “For this the will of God your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God..” Our lives are honorable before God because He created us. Therefore our identity is in Christ and not of this world.
Setting our hearts on things above means time with God’s word. This is how we grow and learn more about ourselves and who we need to be. We are all familiar with II Timothy 2:15. We have to be diligent in our studies if we want to grow and learn more. Diligence is a hard thing to come by today.
Making your faith strong while one is young, is key to a strong life for the rest of your days. Ecclesiastes 12:1, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come and the years draw near when you say ‘I have no pleasure in them’”. Having a strong faith while you are young will make all the difference when you face adulthood.
If you put your faith in man, it will fail you over and over again. Man is neither strong nor unwavering like God. People will disappoint you and unfortunately, that is a part of life. There is One who will always be by your side no matter what. Proverbs 14:12 tells us that there are ways that seem right unto man, but the outcome will not be a good one. This is why we have to set our hearts on things above. Matthew 6:19-21 tells us “Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. We have to be mindful of the earthly things we invest our time in. If it is surpassing our time and love for the Lord, it isn’t worth it. Matthew 10:37, “He who loves father and mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of me”. Prioritizing our time around the Lord and what He wants for us is key.
Setting our hearts on things above is something that we have to be mindful of every day. Who we are, how we treat others, how we react to things in this world, should all come from our knowledge of God’s word. I hope this lesson encourages you and gives you hope in God the Father!
- Philemon: Forgiveness - August 20, 2018
- Imitators of Christ - November 6, 2017
- Setting Our Hearts on Things Above - August 28, 2017
Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!