Things above

The Blonde took off on a walk with the world’s greatest Rough Collie named Captain, so I grabbed my Bible and a book I’m reading and I headed outside.

It seems like I have been all gas and no brake for about two weeks. Not only me but several other big time Christians I hang out with. I hope they are doing what I am doing right now, which is sitting in a lawn chair outside taking a break and spending some time alone with God.

Earlier this morning I was texting a friend, and we were talking about Colossians 3:1-4 and why some people that claim Christ are less focused than others. Because of that I camped out for a while on that passage while I sat in the sun getting some Vitamin D.

The Apostle Paul is pretty clear about how your salvation emerges in your life. As I meditated on God’s Word, I thought about how we have so many first world problems and how Jesus really lived a third world life. In between punches the Holy Spirit asked me, “What are you doing living like you do, concerned about what you are concerned about and anxious about what you are anxious about?” He reminded me of Matthew 6:2534 and then He brought up Matthew 8:20 and how Jesus did not have a condo on the beach and yet that’s where many “Christians” spend their summers. Can we talk? What are we doing?

Getting back to Colossians 3 and my friend’s question from earlier this morning. In verse 2 it says, “Set your mind on things on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Some people can barely do what I would call the minimum Christian duty so to be alert to where Jesus is at and where He is at work and joining Him in that work would probably be mind blowing.

In verse 3 Paul mentions how our former life is gone once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior and that Christ is now our life. Say what?! Life is no longer about me! But what about self-indulgence, self-pleasure, the sports god, the condo, the beach, me, me, me?

Calling yourself a Christian is a whole lot different than actually being a Christian. Kind of like going to church is different from being the church. I’m not sure where this message got changed but God is not so much here for us as we are here for Him. To live for Him is to serve Him exclusively, to bring Him glory and honor and praise. Every Christian should be living this great Christian life that is full of real satisfaction, hope, joy, a future and a life that is way better than anything the old life had to offer.

To answer my friend's question, “Why don’t more people, ‘Set their minds on things that are above and not on things that are on earth?’” We have to go to verse 3, “For you have died, …” I’m thinking that has not happened and maybe a real conversion needs to take place? That can happen today. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). The best day to plant a tree was yesterday but the second-best day is today.

He told me to tell you that.