"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life is reveled, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Colossians 3:2-4, NASV
For the first two chapters in Colossians, Paul has been telling us that Christ is preeminent in our lives. He has been saying that all we need is Him and we don't have to add anything else to our faith. This is a common theme in Paul's word since many people find the grace of God to be "too simple" and want to add laws and restrictions. Paul says that while these things may make a person look religious, it doesn't really help.
Now, in chapter three, Paul is going to go on talking about setting your mind on the Spirit and not on the flesh. He uses this idea of "putting off" and "putting on" to illustrate what he means. Years ago, when I taught this passage, I talked about how it is like taking off one jacket and putting on a new one. I have to make a conscious choice daily which one I will put on. That is what I see in Colossians 3:2 when Paul says, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." That idea of "set" implies a conscious decision on my part about where I am putting my mind.
As I have been studying counseling, I have become more convinced that the main model I want to follow is the cogntive behavior therapy. This is because I am convinced that the mind is the place to start if you want to change emotions and thoughts that lead to actions. The mind is also emphasized in scripture. In numerous places it tells us that we are to renew our minds with the Spirit and with the Word Col 3:10; Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23-24. This also means that we are following another command in scripture which is in Colossians 3:16 which says, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. . . ."
I think this is because of the constant war that goes on in our persons betwen the flesh and the spirit. Even in the believer, the flesh wants to take over, to assert itself and to get what it wants. There is a constant battle on where our attention and allegiance will be focused. That is why this is a daily battle. The characteristics of the flesh Paul mentions here in Colossians 3 and also in Galatians 5:19-21 as things such as lying, slander, malice, wrath, anger, abusive speech. In contrast to that the Spirit would have us put on love gentleness, kindness, compassion, patience and forgiveness.
Paul ends the first part of this chapter by exhorting those who are reading to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Col 3:15. When I think about that idea of rule, a throne comes to mind. In this picture, the peace of Christ is firmly on that throne. But, if we are going to be honest, many times even in our christian lives, he gets pushed aside. The challenge for us is to make a conscious choice to place Him there each day. Also, to set a guard over our minds that we might allow ourselves to "set our minds on things above" and to think about things that would please God.
For the first two chapters in Colossians, Paul has been telling us that Christ is preeminent in our lives. He has been saying that all we need is Him and we don't have to add anything else to our faith. This is a common theme in Paul's word since many people find the grace of God to be "too simple" and want to add laws and restrictions. Paul says that while these things may make a person look religious, it doesn't really help.
Now, in chapter three, Paul is going to go on talking about setting your mind on the Spirit and not on the flesh. He uses this idea of "putting off" and "putting on" to illustrate what he means. Years ago, when I taught this passage, I talked about how it is like taking off one jacket and putting on a new one. I have to make a conscious choice daily which one I will put on. That is what I see in Colossians 3:2 when Paul says, "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." That idea of "set" implies a conscious decision on my part about where I am putting my mind.
As I have been studying counseling, I have become more convinced that the main model I want to follow is the cogntive behavior therapy. This is because I am convinced that the mind is the place to start if you want to change emotions and thoughts that lead to actions. The mind is also emphasized in scripture. In numerous places it tells us that we are to renew our minds with the Spirit and with the Word Col 3:10; Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23-24. This also means that we are following another command in scripture which is in Colossians 3:16 which says, "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. . . ."
I think this is because of the constant war that goes on in our persons betwen the flesh and the spirit. Even in the believer, the flesh wants to take over, to assert itself and to get what it wants. There is a constant battle on where our attention and allegiance will be focused. That is why this is a daily battle. The characteristics of the flesh Paul mentions here in Colossians 3 and also in Galatians 5:19-21 as things such as lying, slander, malice, wrath, anger, abusive speech. In contrast to that the Spirit would have us put on love gentleness, kindness, compassion, patience and forgiveness.
Paul ends the first part of this chapter by exhorting those who are reading to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." Col 3:15. When I think about that idea of rule, a throne comes to mind. In this picture, the peace of Christ is firmly on that throne. But, if we are going to be honest, many times even in our christian lives, he gets pushed aside. The challenge for us is to make a conscious choice to place Him there each day. Also, to set a guard over our minds that we might allow ourselves to "set our minds on things above" and to think about things that would please God.
