28 Days of Christmas Devotions: The Greatest Gift-The Gift of Christ
“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.” Colossians 3:1-3 NASB
Once we become a Christian by receiving, by faith, the free gift of salvation, our spiritual position has changed. Our spiritual position is no longer of this earth. Our spiritual position is now in heaven with Christ. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that God has, “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Colossians also tells us that we “have been raised up with Christ.” Our bodies are limited to this earth but our spirit has been, past tense, “raised up” with Jesus in the “heavenly places. Therefore, spiritually, we are residents of heaven.
Because of this wonderful truth, Paul tells us in verse four to, “Consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, are all products of this fleshly world. Since we are citizens of heaven, we need to live as citizens of heaven. Since Jesus is the King of Glory, He should be our focus. Focusing on this world leads to idolatry. Focusing on Jesus produces holiness.
Truth be told, there is nothing good in this world. One day, everything in this world will pass away. For this reason Jesus said in Matthew 6:20, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” The people of this world are foolishly blinded into thinking the objects of this earth are treasures and have value when they are but temporary. Even if we were to live in the lap of luxury for one hundred years, what is that compared to the glories of heaven? James 4:14 says, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” However, as citizens of heaven, we are eternal. If we gain everything this world has to offer but never obtain heaven we have truly lost. If we lose everything this world has to offer but gain Christ, we have gained all.
People often say, “Don’t live with your head in the clouds.” Here, when Paul said to, “Set your mind on things above,” he is telling us we should live with our heads in the clouds; the heavenly clouds. When we’re focused on the things below we think and act fleshly, and worldly. When we’re focused on the things above we become godly. Through Christ, we can, and have overcome this world. As we stay focused on Him, we continue to overcome. Since we’ve been raised up with Christ, and seated with Him in the heavenly places, we have the ability to stay focused on the heavenly things; the things above. Therefore, we have the ability, through Christ, and our position with Him, to be heavenly minded. Truly, we have received the greatest gift the world has ever seen.
This is part 20 of 28 devotions that will go through Christmas Eve. If you would like to subscribe to my daily devotions please PM me your email. Also, please share.
Merry Christ-Mass
