User blog:Christian Sirolli/Bible Weekly Devotional - Mindset

Take a pause in your day and read today’s devotional. We are told to set our hearts and minds on things above. To set our minds and hearts on something means to focus on that something; to think about it, talk about it and make decisions about it. Our life basically revolves around what this something is; which, in this case, are things above.
 * -|NIV=Colossians 3:1-2 “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.”
 * -|KJV=Colossians 3:1-2 “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.”
 * -|NASB=Colossians 3:1-2 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

“Things above” is described as “where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” The would be the throne room of God or heaven in general. So to set our hearts and minds on things above is to focus on God’s Kingdom; being Kingdom-minded. When our hearts are set on this, it will overflow out of our mouths. Our discussions with others will involve God’s Kingdom, what we do will be based on God’s Kingdom, and our thoughts will be filled with how to reach more people for God’s Kingdom.

To set our minds and hearts on things above, we must renew our minds. Renewing our minds allows us to test and approve what God’s will is. Renewing our minds is changing the way we think. So we have to intentionally change our focus to God’s Kingdom from earthly things (which are things related to sin, sin itself, and even the temporary things of life). Renewing our minds is how we are transformed from living with our focus on earthly things. These verses were written as a command, not a suggestion, so we must work hard on setting our hearts and minds on things above.