Things Above
by Joni Eareckson Tada
“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.” Colossians 3:1-2
In this verse we are twice commanded.  First, we are to set our hearts; then second, set our minds on things above.  In other words, things above are to capture our imaginations, emotions, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and on and on.
Most of us consider this command to be not as necessary as other mandates in Scripture.  But it is!  When you consider that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart and mind, it follows naturally that we should set our hearts on things above “where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
C.H. Spurgeon once said, “Some of you, right now, could not be happy if you were allowed to enter heaven.  Shall I tell you why?  It is because heaven is a land of the spirit and you have neglected your spirit.”
It is the spiritual person who can most readily set his heart and mind on heaven.  So live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, abide by the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, and you can’t help but glean a real and deep longing for heavenly glories above.
What enriches your spirit?  Filling your heart and mind with whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or anything excellent or praiseworthy.  What enriches your spirit?  Accessing the means of grace through prayer, worship, the reading of God’s Word, and fellowship.  What enriches your spirit?  Trusting and obeying your Lord.
I want to be a truly spiritual person, Lord, so help me to keep in step with Your Spirit today.  May my flesh diminish and my spirit increase as I set my heart and mind on things above.
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
 
 
Taken from Diamonds in the Dust
Copyright © 1993
By Joni Eareckson Tada
Published in Print by Zondervan, Grand Rapids
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version.
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