What are you focused on?

||Rhema for the Week||

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

The evidence of our faith is the newness of our life in Christ. Where our old self and nature that’s corrupted by sin and flesh is put to death and then we put on a new nature that’s renewed in Christ unto righteousness and holiness.

This transformation is meant to be thorough, in that it affects every area and aspect of our life. We must put away EVERYTHING that pertains to our old nature. We are usually willing and open to change the ways that were detestable in our own eyes but the purpose of salvation is not to assess life through your lens but through God’s lens. It’s God’s opinion that matters.

Paul admonishes us in Col. 3:1-2 to set our hearts and minds on things above. The phrase ‘things above’ is basically talking about God’s will. Our hearts and minds must be focused on only one thing, GOD’S WILL. Your heart is the core of your being, which includes your emotions, will, and desires. Your mind also looks at your intellect, perception, conscience, and imagination. All these must be renewed from seeking your own pleasure to seeking God’s pleasure.

Col. 3:3 tells us that ‘since we have died, then our life is now hidden with Christ in God.’ There is no room for seeking our own pleasure rather than that of God’s pleasure. The life we now live is not ours but it is Christ’s, who lives in us. Brethren, let’s assess ourselves. What are we focused on? Is it on earthly things? Or Heavenly things? The earthly things here are not just about ‘sin’ but about everything other than God’s pleasure. That includes our own pleasure.

If we have partaken in Christ’s death and resurrection, then let us live only to please Him. This is what we’ve been called to and this is God’s will for our life.

I pray that God gives us the strength to deny ourselves and live fully and solely for His Will and Glory.

Further Reading: Eph. 4:22-24, Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:5, Matt. 16:24