Free Bible Commentary
“Colossians 3:1-4”
Categories: Colossians“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. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
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Paul wrote extensively about many activities that a Christian should not participate in chapter 2. But our new life in Christ is not all about what we must avoid doing. Our main focus should be on the things that we are to be actively “seeking” (verse 1) and setting our minds on (verse 2). He wrote in 2:20 that we have “died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world.” In verse 1 of Chapter 3 he emphasizes that we have also been “raised up with Christ” to live a new life dedicated to truth, holiness and obedience to the Lord. We will see in this chapter that there are certain things we are to “take off” (stop doing), and other things we are to “put on” (pursue with a passion).
We are to seek and set our minds on “the things above.” That is to say that our minds should be focused on heaven and eternity and spiritual pursuits, even as we take care of our (not as) important secular business here on earth. Paul is not suggesting that we walk around with our heads in the clouds. On the contrary, to seek the things above “where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” and reigning with supreme authority, is to engage ourselves in the very serious pursuits of learning His will, living righteously, worshiping truthfully, helping the needy, and teaching the lost. Our faith in Christ and commitment to God’s will for us are higher and nobler than, and should take preference over, any worldly commitment or desire.
Even as we shine our lights so that others may glorify God because of our good deeds (Matthew 15:16), our lives are still “hidden with Christ in God” (verse 3). When we “sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts” (1 Peter 3:15), that light illuminates from within where Christ and His word have been firmly buried, planted and rooted. The world did not recognize Jesus (John 1:5), so most of the people of the world will not recognize or appreciate the fact that He is the source of our transformed life. But when Christ returns all truth will be exposed for what it is when we are “revealed with Him in glory” (verse 4).
Please read Colossians 3:5-11 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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