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"So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
(Colossians 3:1-2; CSB)
Life is hard. Can I get an amen?
I can confidently say that this has been the hardest season of my life. This season has really stretched my wife Kyndall and me. We are tackling many challenges all at once.
Kyndall and I are currently about to move to Arkansas to take on a new ministry calling. We are currently trying to sell our house. We are currently trying to adopt. We are currently trying to figure out what Kyndall will do for work in Arkansas. We are currently struggling through infertility. We are currently trying not to compare our infertility with others' fertility. We are currently trying not to think too much about the wonderful community that we are leaving. We are currently working through our insecurities in moving. We are currently going through all this at once, and other things too... but you get the picture.
I do not type this to say, "Woe is me. Woe are we." I really don't. I write this because this really hard season has been a really great season for me to see how well I am able to practice what I believe. You may be in a similar season of life, or an even more difficult one – a really, really, really hard season that feels like it will never end. What do we do in such times?
Colossians 3:1-2 has been my "cling-to" verse in this season. Earlier this week, we discussed meditating on the God of scripture. Re-read the passage above, and let's ponder it, personalize it, and put it into practice.
I love how the passage starts: "So if you have been raised with Christ..." This truth is for the BELIEVER, the one who has placed their faith, hope, and identity in Jesus Christ. If you call yourself a Christian, what do we do in this life? Seek the things above. Why do we do this? Because that's where Christ is. Where is He? He is seated at the right hand of God, in the position of power, majesty, and authority. We not only seek the things that are above, but we then set our minds on the things that are above. For me, when I begin feeling overwhelmed by circumstances, obstacles, and trials, I reflect on this verse, and I meditate on Jesus.
What comes to your mind when you think of Jesus? Is it Grace? Peace? Love? Joy? Is it that He is your Savior? Redeemer? Healer? Comforter? What are the thoughts and the meditations that come to your mind when you seek Jesus and set your mind on Him?
"Seeking the things above" and "setting your mind on things above" doesn't mean that the circumstances go away. All of those "currentlies" from my first paragraph above don't "poof" away when I seek and set my mind on things above. So, what happens? I know that King Jesus, who goes before us and holds all things together according to Colossians 1:17, is WITH me. I can KNOW that my circumstances are hard and challenging, but I can be ASSURED that my God is with me, He sees me, and He promises to never leave me. Your "currently" could be harder, or easier, than what I am going through, but we are not called to compare our "currentlies"; we are called, according to Colossians 3:1-2, to seek the things that are above and set our minds on things that are above.
My challenge to you today is, throughout today, seek the things that are above and set your mind on things that are above. Even more simply put:
Seek Jesus and set your mind on Jesus.
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