SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE

Colossians 3:1-4

In life our success is always determined by the priorities we make and our priorities are determined by what is set in our hearts and minds. So, for us to achieve anything it has to be on our hearts. Similarly as disciples, for us to make it to heaven, we must set our minds on the things above. For us to set our minds on things above, we need to know what is above.

Above is:
- God, Mark 16:19
- A place for you and I, John 14:2
- A crown of righteousness, 2 Timothy 4:8
- Many other things we admire, like love, peace, patience, kindness, etc.

These are the things on which we need to set our minds, and the key to setting our minds on them is righteousness. This is how we lead a righteous life:

Colossians 3:5-10

Put to death these things that belong to your earthly nature. As we said earlier, in order to make it to heaven we need to set our minds on things above, but once you get involved in such activities as mentioned here, they give you guilty feelings, they harden your heart, they blind you and they distract you so that you lose focus and change your priorities away from setting your mind on things above.

The guilt you feel makes you start avoiding disciples, who are the very people you need, who can help you to change. You stop reading the Bible, which you actually need to read much more.

Away from such sins, your conscience is clear and you can easily focus on things above. Once you put to death your old self you should not be left naked but rather clothe yourself.

Colossians 3:12-17

As chosen people we are not expected to run around naked but to clothe ourselves with virtues of righteousness as mentioned here.

Q. Do these qualities describe you in the way that you interact with others?

Luke 11:24-26

After cleaning and putting our house in order, if we do not clothe ourselves with the virtues of righteousness, we become more vulnerable to the devil's schemes than before.

Be alert. The devil goes and comes back with more demons to distract your attention and make you more focused on earthly things, but when he comes and finds the house filled with righteousness and the knowledge of God, he will not enter to distract your attention. Put on the full armour of God so that you can stand your ground (Ephesians 6:13).

Fight for your focus on things above by:
- Letting the peace of Christ dwell in you richly
- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
- Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude. It is important to be at church early to sing together when the service starts. Don't just walk in for the message.
- Do everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:20

We all want to make it to heaven, where all the beautiful things mentioned above are, but there is a price to pay. Righteous living will guarantee you entry to heaven. Amen!