Set Your Mind On Things Above

Colossians 3

​Christ is not merely to be in your life; He is to be the total sum of your life. He must be all; and you must be all-in as one in Christ.

According to Warren Wiersbe, in his Word Commentary, “Having laid the doctrinal foundation, Paul now makes the personal application, for truth is something to live as well as to learn.”

Wiersbe says Paul phrases this part of his letter with the challenge to the Colossians to put the old life to death, put off those things that do not honor our Father, and to put on righteousness, purity and godliness.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.” Colossians 3:1–7 (ESV)

In Christ, you have died to the old life and been raised to a new life, so make the new life the focus of your attention. Set your mind on it; seek to experience all that you have in Christ.

Here, Paul calls Christians to put to death what belongs to the earthly nature—to kick out that earthly perspective. Don’t give it a chance to breathe or rear its ugly head.

“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices. Colossians 3:8–9 (ESV)

Like Lazarus in John 11, you must get rid of the grave clothes that belong to the old life. And by faith, put off the old sins that bind you; for Christ has set you free.

Dr. Tony Evans writes, “Jesus Christ cleansed you by his blood. Therefore, you must ask yourself concerning your actions, “Will those clothes match what Jesus did in my life? Or will they dirty up what Jesus made clean?” Because Christ has set you free, your mouth no longer rules you.”

“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:10–13 (ESV)

Forgiveness does not mean approving a sin or excusing evil. Rather, forgiveness means releasing people from obligations incurred by their wrongs against you. This may come in the form of unilateral forgiveness—that is, forgiving someone who has not asked for forgiveness. Or it may come in the form of transactional forgiveness, which involves the confession of the offender, his repentance, and reconciliation.

What makes forgiveness possible is recognizing that the Lord has forgiven you.

Dr. Evans says, “If you refuse to forgive, you have blocked God’s operation in your life. But when you forgive, you no longer “grieve” the Holy Spirit, and you imitate the one who shows you mercy.

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:14–17 (ESV)

When you are committed to setting your mind “on things above,” God will give you the peace of Christ—inner calm despite trying circumstances to help confirm your decisions and the directions for your life. God clarifies His call on your life and the path to follow His Devine design for your life. If you don’t have that, something is out of alignment and fear begins to supersede your faith.

God wants you and me to wear the “grace clothes,”not the “grave clothes!” If your focus is on things heavenly, you will obey God in things on earth, especially in your relationships with others.
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Today, do all things with his reputation in mind. Put to death your old life. Put off the sin that binds you. Put on forgiveness, love, and all those things that brings honor to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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