A New Way Of Living
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:1–2
The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus - it is something that happens to us when we put our faith in Him. Paul says we have been "raised with Christ," which means we are called to live a fundamentally different kind of life.
Before Christ, we were earthbound in our thinking and priorities. We lived for temporary pleasures, pursued worldly success, and measured our worth by human standards. But the resurrection changes everything. We are now citizens of heaven, and that should affect how we live on earth.
"Seek the things that are above" does not mean we become so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. It means we view earthly things from a heavenly perspective. We work, but not just for a paycheck - we work as unto the Lord. We love our families, but not just for earthly happiness - we love them with eternal purpose.
I remember when this truth first became real to me. I had been living as a Christian but thinking like a non-believer. My priorities were still earthly, my goals were still temporary, and my values were still worldly. But when I truly understood that I had been raised with Christ, everything shifted.
This new way of living affects every area of life. It changes how we handle money - we hold it loosely because our real treasure is in heaven. It changes how we view success - we measure it by faithfulness, not fame. It changes how we respond to problems - we see them as temporary light afflictions compared to eternal glory.
Living as a resurrected person means we are not bound by the limitations that constrain others. We can forgive because we have been forgiven. We can love because we have been loved. We can hope because our hope is anchored in eternity.
The world is watching to see if the resurrection makes a practical difference in how Christians live. They want to know if our faith is just Sunday religion or daily reality. Your life is a sermon that preaches the power of the resurrection.
In what areas of your life do you need to shift from earthly thinking to heavenly perspective? How can you live more consistently as someone who has been raised with Christ?
Risen Savior, thank You for raising me with You to new life. Help me to set my mind on things above and live with eternal perspective. Transform my priorities, values, and goals to align with Your kingdom. Let my life be a testimony to the reality of resurrection power. In Your transforming name, Amen.
The resurrection is not just something that happened to Jesus - it is something that happens to us when we put our faith in Him. Paul says we have been "raised with Christ," which means we are called to live a fundamentally different kind of life.
Before Christ, we were earthbound in our thinking and priorities. We lived for temporary pleasures, pursued worldly success, and measured our worth by human standards. But the resurrection changes everything. We are now citizens of heaven, and that should affect how we live on earth.
"Seek the things that are above" does not mean we become so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. It means we view earthly things from a heavenly perspective. We work, but not just for a paycheck - we work as unto the Lord. We love our families, but not just for earthly happiness - we love them with eternal purpose.
I remember when this truth first became real to me. I had been living as a Christian but thinking like a non-believer. My priorities were still earthly, my goals were still temporary, and my values were still worldly. But when I truly understood that I had been raised with Christ, everything shifted.
This new way of living affects every area of life. It changes how we handle money - we hold it loosely because our real treasure is in heaven. It changes how we view success - we measure it by faithfulness, not fame. It changes how we respond to problems - we see them as temporary light afflictions compared to eternal glory.
Living as a resurrected person means we are not bound by the limitations that constrain others. We can forgive because we have been forgiven. We can love because we have been loved. We can hope because our hope is anchored in eternity.
The world is watching to see if the resurrection makes a practical difference in how Christians live. They want to know if our faith is just Sunday religion or daily reality. Your life is a sermon that preaches the power of the resurrection.
In what areas of your life do you need to shift from earthly thinking to heavenly perspective? How can you live more consistently as someone who has been raised with Christ?
Risen Savior, thank You for raising me with You to new life. Help me to set my mind on things above and live with eternal perspective. Transform my priorities, values, and goals to align with Your kingdom. Let my life be a testimony to the reality of resurrection power. In Your transforming name, Amen.
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7 Comments
Great one today! Its easy to get caught up in worldly things but you need to look up and realize Jesus is the answer ....Not material things but ETERNAL
Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." This is the ultimate "life is better" verse for a businessman—it reminds us that when priorities are right, the rest falls into place.
amén!
Pastor Ed, your sharing, 'but when I truly understood that I had been raised with Christ, everything shifted'... WOW!!! That SHIFT is available to each and everyone of us. Holy is His Name. Thank you for reminding us how much our Savior loves us.
I agree with Vicki - that same sentence grabbed me and I felt a Holy Spirit SHIFT! Pastor Ed’s admonition, and I say that word because it implies counsel with a warning, is worthy of more than just a passing consent. He is saying that every single day we have the opportunity to preach he gospel. We may THINK we have no way to reach the world as we are commissioned to. But we DO have a way! Every day we are a walking testimony - good or bad - to a watching world. I want to set my intention for my life (each day) to be a “sermon” that preaches the POWER OF RESURRECTION! I've already set in motion the "shifts" to hold myself accountable for this. First, in the morning to set my intentions to "preach" the sermon through my life and ... Second, at night as I lay my head down on the pillow to check in with the Lord to see how I did and where I need to shift more. Thank you, Pastor Ed for your wise counsel and - brothers and sisters - for your encouraging comments!
Thank you. The biggest problem I’ve had and I believe many have is that we still think we can just try hard enough on our own and achieve these ideals. It wasn’t until I knew for sure I didn’t just want Gods help but I needed it. He does for me what I cannot do for myself. I still have to constantly surrender every day because I’ll start getting this belief that I can do it on my own again. I need Him like oxygen.
Amen