We must focus our minds on Godly things if we are to live a life that is pleasing and honoring to God. Our Bible Journaling Scripture today says, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:2 ESV) If our minds are not on Spiritual desires we tend to be focused on earthly desires.
The Apostle Paul encourages Believers to think about those things which would draw us closer to God. “Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. (Philippians 4:8 AMP) When we “set” our minds on those things God would have us focus upon, then we focus on what is important to Him.
Living in this world with all its troubles and woes can leave us feeling helpless and hopeless. But instead of dwelling on all that is wrong around us, we must focus on the good God has for us. What good? If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have salvation! Our sins have been forgiven and we have a hope that the world cannot give us. As we read His Word, we focus on the assurance that He will go through life with us, in good times, in bad times, in grieving times, and in peaceful times. He is always with us. (Matthew 8:20) When we stay focused and in constant communication with Him through prayer and Bible study, we learn more about who God is, we learn about His character, and we learn just what it is that He requires of us.
When we focus on earthly things, it tends to alienate us from God. I’m in a study group with a few of my friends. Tonight, we were talking about apostasy, or to be better understood, the Great Falling Away. We discussed how some denominations are turning their backs on Biblical truths and have instead begun to endorse things that are clearly stated in God’s Word as sin. This can only happen when the focus is on what the world views as their idea of “normal” instead of focusing on what the Bible says is good, honorable, and righteous.
We must, as J. Vernon McGee states in his commentary on Colossians, “get through to Christ. ‘Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.’” (Colossians 3:1 KJV) Through a daily walk with Him where we build a relationship with Him, we get to know Him and learn to pattern our lives after His. We aren’t so busy trying to be like the world, but we are focused on trying to be more like Jesus! “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1 NASB 1995)
The book of Proverbs tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV) By focusing on Spiritual things, we “guard our heart”, and our minds are “set” upon Godly things which come through in our behavior, our attitudes, our obedience, and our relationships with God and people.
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