2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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A HEART SET ON THINGS ABOVE (III)
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
Colossians 3:1-3
1 John 2:15-17
“Set your affection
on things above…”
A HEART SET ON THINGS ABOVE (III)
How we are to seek. In the first place, we must notice the contrast that is here brought out between the “things above” and the “things on the earth” (Col 3:2). This is the choice which daily, constantly, faces the Christian because we are, as it were, a people placed between two spheres: in the world, but not of the world. It may be harmless enough for a pilgrim in a foreign land to feel or grow fonder of the place of his sojourn than for his homeland; but the issue becomes deadly when translated into the spiritual realm.
It is precisely because we are “strangers and pilgrims” in a spiritual sense, that we must be reminded to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Pet 2:11). It is because “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16) ‒ and yet these things are powerfully attractive to the vestiges of the old nature that remain within us! ‒ that even Christians must be exhorted to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15).
It is because of this contrast, in other words, that seeking the things above requires us to “set” our “affection” (our hearts and minds) on those things, while removing our affections from the things of the earth (Col 3:2). Dear reader, realise that the “things above” are actually lovely, beautiful, desirable; but they do not easily or naturally appear to us to be so. We do not find them desirable, because we do not naturally think of them as they actually are. We tend toward what is immediately, sensually gratifying or pleasing, and the god of this world is well-practised in providing this!
But just as a traveller with map and compass must set down his compass first, and only then orient his map with respect to the direction indicated by the compass, so also the Christian must give regard to Scripture, and orient his heart with respect to the direction indicated therein. Our affections must not be allowed to set themselves! But as we set them according to the Word of God, we will find that the “things above” are indeed infinitely more worthy of our affection and attention.
THOUGHT: I must actively and diligently set my affections rightly.
PRAYER: Father, help me to turn my eyes upon Jesus!