Setting Our Hearts on Things Above

 

Setting Our Hearts on Things Above

Text: Epistle to the Colossians 3:1–4

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (KJV)

 

Paul the Apostle reminds believers that the Christian life begins with a resurrection experience. When we accept Jesus Christ, the old life of sin is counted as dead, and a new life begins. Because we are spiritually raised with Christ, our focus should change. Our ambitions, priorities, and desires should now be directed toward “things above.”

This does not mean we neglect our daily responsibilities on earth. Rather, it means that our hearts are guided by heavenly values—love, righteousness, purity, and faithfulness. The world constantly pulls our attention toward temporary things: possessions, status, and pleasures. But Paul calls us to lift our minds higher and to live with eternity in view.

Verse 3 offers a beautiful assurance: our life is “hid with Christ in God.” Even when life feels uncertain, the believer’s true life is secure in Christ. Our identity, hope, and future are safely kept in Him.

Finally, the passage points us to a glorious promise. One day Christ will return, and those who belong to Him will share in His glory. This hope motivates us to live faithfully today.

Application

Today, ask yourself: Where is my heart focused? Make a deliberate choice to set your mind on things that honor God. Spend time in prayer, meditate on His Word, and let the hope of Christ’s return shape the way you live.

Prayer

Lord, help me to set my heart on things above. Turn my thoughts away from the temporary and fix them on Your eternal truth. Keep my life hidden in Christ, and prepare me for the day when He appears in glory. Amen.