TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Elder Chris Beltran

Colossians was written by the apostle Paul to the church in the city of Colossae. The culture of Colossae was thoroughly pagan and immoral, as it was in most of the Roman world and as it is in much of the world today. The Christians in Colossae, however, should no longer take their principles from the world around them. They had to take direction from “above.” Although physically in the world, they were not to believe the same things that the culture around them did. They were not to behave according to the standards of the culture around them. That is taking their direction from “below.”

In verses 5 to 9, Paul describes the “below” culture in a number of words and concepts: anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying. In contrast, verses 12 to 14 describe the “above” culture, which is characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, singing, worship, and gratitude.

How are we to cultivate the values that are from above while living below? It takes an intentional effort. We must “set our minds” to it. We need to have a renewing of our minds for transformation to happen.

We are daily bombarded with messages that promote the “below” behavior. The things we read, listen to, watch shows, conversations at work, engaging social media, we are constantly directed to embrace values that are clearly from below. Even if the messages we receive are not immoral, the perspective is one that excludes God and prioritizes things as though life on earth is all that matters; our happiness and self-fulfillment are the top priority.

If we want to be led “from above,” we must make an effort to counteract the messages that are present in our culture. To set our minds on things above, we must read, meditate and apply Scripture, attend church, listen to uplifting music, and read things that turn our hearts toward God. In setting our minds to the things above, we constantly renew them to be more like our Lord Jesus Christ. The spiritual battle is always to win control over your thinking. Make it a priority to make our minds a place where the Holy Spirit has complete control over.

REFLECTION

As we meditate on Colossians 3:1-17 again, do you see the urgency of the apostle Paul in saying, Why is it so crucial that Christians should set our minds on things above? And that when we say that we are in Christ, earthly things should no longer have any hold in our lives. We are to be set apart to do His bidding alone.

PRAYER

Lord, please take away anything that is earthly and not pleasing to You in my life: my pride, my tongue, putting myself above you, my lack of control, and many others. Never stop to remind me, to rebuke me, and even to discipline me, Lord. I want to daily set my mind on filling it with things from above for Your glory and purpose alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.