TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
1 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. 8 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 10 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. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:1-14
DEVOTIONAL
by Elder Chris Beltran
In verses 5 to 9, Paul describes the “below” culture in several 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. 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.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, when faced with overwhelming circumstances and unanswered questions, help us not despair but trust in Your faithfulness. Remind us of Your promise that no temptation is beyond our ability to endure, for You always provide a way. Grant us the strength and perseverance to see opportunities in challenges and to claim the victory that lies within for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
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