"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2
This verse is pretty plain, to the point and easy to understand. Set our affections, which in the original text means to set our minds or thoughts on things above- or in other words, "think about what is above and not on what is here below."
Most of our thought life is consumed with the cares of this life. We spend our time thinking about tomorrow, the future, our jobs, our problems, our financial situation, what we will eat and drink, what other people think about us and what we are going to do next.
Let's look at what this verse is saying to us:
"Set your affection/thoughts"... To set yourself to do something means there is a deliberate action involved. You don't just "happen" to think about the things above, you must make yourself and discipline yourself to do so.
"Set your affections/thoughts"... To set your mind means to become firm, solid, or permanent, as mortar, glue or cement. It doesn't mean we occasionally think about the things above, or just when we are in church, or only when we need help. Our thoughts about the things above should not be passing, momentary thoughts only but permanently set on the things above.
"... on things above..." What is above? The eternal; the abiding place of God; the Kingdom of God; heaven; the place of God's rule; our future home if we have accepted Jesus as Savior and are following Him as Lord.
"...above, not on things on the earth." Our thoughts should be focused above- on a higher place- not on a lower one. Am I saying we should never think about what we are doing or have to do here on earth? Of course not. But I am sure we spend too much time consumed with the daily affairs and tasks of this life without regard or thought to what is above. What is above is eternal and what is here below is temporal. We need to be setting our thoughts on what is eternal, because this being temporal means it is temporary- and it could be gone tomorrow.
Have a great day. Where are you setting your affections/thoughts? On things above or on what is here below?
For further reading:
Matthew 6:25
Luke 21:34
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:5-8
Most of our thought life is consumed with the cares of this life. We spend our time thinking about tomorrow, the future, our jobs, our problems, our financial situation, what we will eat and drink, what other people think about us and what we are going to do next.
Let's look at what this verse is saying to us:
"Set your affection/thoughts"... To set yourself to do something means there is a deliberate action involved. You don't just "happen" to think about the things above, you must make yourself and discipline yourself to do so.
"Set your affections/thoughts"... To set your mind means to become firm, solid, or permanent, as mortar, glue or cement. It doesn't mean we occasionally think about the things above, or just when we are in church, or only when we need help. Our thoughts about the things above should not be passing, momentary thoughts only but permanently set on the things above.
"... on things above..." What is above? The eternal; the abiding place of God; the Kingdom of God; heaven; the place of God's rule; our future home if we have accepted Jesus as Savior and are following Him as Lord.
"...above, not on things on the earth." Our thoughts should be focused above- on a higher place- not on a lower one. Am I saying we should never think about what we are doing or have to do here on earth? Of course not. But I am sure we spend too much time consumed with the daily affairs and tasks of this life without regard or thought to what is above. What is above is eternal and what is here below is temporal. We need to be setting our thoughts on what is eternal, because this being temporal means it is temporary- and it could be gone tomorrow.
Have a great day. Where are you setting your affections/thoughts? On things above or on what is here below?
For further reading:
Matthew 6:25
Luke 21:34
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:5-8
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