Set Your Mind on Things Above

Colossians 3:1-2

As we live in this world, we often focus on our circumstances or ourselves. When things go well, we feel happy, but when they don’t, it’s easy to feel discouraged and even depressed. This is a common experience for everyone. However, God tells us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Today, I would like to explain this verse in three key points.

1. Think About Your Relationship with God

To set your mind on things above, you must first reflect deeply on your relationship with God. God is Spirit, so we cannot see Him with our physical eyes. But through faith, we can look to the spiritual realm above. There, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much that He died on the cross to save us from sin and death, is seated at the right hand of God. This verse encourages us to remember the Lord who loves us so deeply.

The Bible says, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). In Christ Jesus, we are bound by God’s unbreakable love. Who can separate us from this relationship?

Furthermore, Jesus is our mediator, who does not ignore our pain and struggles. When we pray and ask for help, the Lord sends His Spirit to comfort, guide, and protect us.

Another essential aspect of our relationship with God is remembering that He has a great plan for each of us. The Bible says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). God will fulfill His plan for us, and through this, He will receive glory. God’s glory is revealed when souls are saved through us. Ultimately, His will and purpose are for those around us to come to believe in Him and be saved through the lives we live.

We must also understand our identity in God. The Bible says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). As people belonging to the Kingdom of Heaven, God’s power works through us when we obey His Word.

Therefore, when facing challenging situations, we should see them as opportunities to glorify God. If we achieve something by our own strength, we may fail to glorify Him. But when others see that we are in situations we cannot solve on our own, and yet we obey God’s Word, His miraculous work becomes evident, leading people to praise Him.

In summary, for those called according to His purpose, all things work together for good. When we firmly believe in our calling, we will experience God working through us to reveal His glory. Such a life becomes a testimony that declares the beauty of God to others.

2. Listen to God’s Word to Set Your Mind on Things Above

We have physical bodies, and because of this, our minds are easily influenced by earthly, fleshly thoughts. This often makes it difficult to listen to God’s Word. So, how can we hear His Word? Since God is Spirit, our spirits must be awakened to hear Him. Even now, God is awakening your spirit. If you sense that God is speaking to you, that is evidence that your spirit has been awakened. Without an awakened spirit, it is impossible to truly hear God’s Word.

Now that your spirit is awakened, seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit through earnest prayer. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, He brings the power of God, which is the assurance that God is with you. This faith will help you overcome fear and turn despair into hope. Through the Holy Spirit, you will also gain the strength to obey God’s Word. As you obey, you will experience God’s marvelous works and glorify Him. A life filled with the Holy Spirit will overflow with joy and gratitude.

The Bible says, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). So, do not be discouraged by your circumstances or your shortcomings. Instead, look up and focus on the things above. The Almighty God is your Lord, and He will be glorified through you, no matter the situation.

Our forefathers of faith looked to God’s faithfulness even in difficult circumstances. They proclaimed, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). This is a beautiful example of faith that rises above circumstances and fixes its gaze on God. Trust in the Almighty Lord, who says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God” (Isaiah 41:10) and “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). These promises remind us that our weaknesses and challenges are opportunities for God to reveal Himself through us.

For instance, David cried out to God when King Saul sought to kill him. He pleaded for deliverance and praised God’s mercy and justice. Even when he was trapped in the Philistine camp under dire circumstances, David trusted in God and prayed for salvation. This trust allowed him to compose psalms of praise for God’s deliverance.

Daniel prayed in the lions’ den and experienced God’s protection. Joseph, though sold into slavery, trusted the God of salvation and prayed to Him. Whenever God is with us, He works all things together for good. Similarly, the apostle Paul, in the midst of great hardship, set his mind on things above and glorified God.

When we face situations beyond our control, that is the moment to fix our eyes on things above and call upon God for help. In every life, there comes a time like this. How will you respond when that moment comes? Let us take this message to heart and follow the example of our faithful forefathers by setting our minds on things above. May you be blessed and encouraged to do so.

3. Do Not Measure God’s Word—Simply Obey It

To set your mind on things above, you must not measure or question God’s Word. Instead, obey it as it is. When you obey God’s Word without reservation, you will experience His love and protection. Jesus said, “Consider carefully what you hear. With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them” (Mark 4:24-25). Jesus spoke these words while explaining the parable of the sower, teaching the principles of God’s kingdom.

Since God’s Word is always true, obedience to it will lead you to experience God’s work in your life. These experiences will strengthen your faith, enabling you to obey further and witness even greater works of God. Through this, you bring glory to Him. This is the meaning of the statement, “Whoever has will be given more.” It is like seed sown on good soil, yielding a crop of 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. Such fruitful lives glorify God.

On the other hand, when you try to measure God’s Word by human reasoning or logic, you will struggle to believe it. This will cause you to miss the opportunity to experience God’s work and to glorify Him. This is what it means to set your mind on earthly things. Jesus illustrated this with the seeds that fell on the path, rocky ground, and among thorns.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I encourage you not to stop at simply hearing or knowing God’s Word as information. Instead, seek to experience the living God working in your life. When you experience God, you will grow in faith and declare, “Truly, God is my Lord, my Protector, and the One who loves me.”

One of the reasons people do not experience God is their misunderstanding of tithing. Many see it as a rigid law rather than a blessing from God. It’s natural to wonder, “How can I tithe when I’m already struggling to pay bills and take care of my family?” But tithing is not a burden placed upon us—it is a gift, like the Sabbath, given for our benefit.

The ultimate owner of the tithe is Jesus. When Abraham returned victorious from battle, Melchizedek greeted him and said, “Praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand” (Genesis 14:20). In gratitude for God’s grace, Abraham joyfully and willingly gave a tithe to Melchizedek. This was the origin of tithing. Hebrews explains that Melchizedek was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, like Abraham, we give our tithes as a joyful and voluntary act of thanksgiving for God’s grace. When God sees such faith, He continues to reveal His glory through our lives. In Abraham’s case, God’s glory was so evident that even unbelievers testified, “God is with you.” Likewise, when we live in faith and obedience, even those who do not yet believe in God will glorify Him through what they see in us.

In Conclusion

There will be times in life when we face challenges. But those moments are opportunities to experience God. When you obey God’s Word, He will resolve problems that you could never solve on your own. Through this, not only will you gain confidence in God’s work, but those around you will also come to recognize His power and glory.

Today’s message included tithing as an example. Tithing is not an end in itself but a tool God uses to lead us to experience His blessings and to glorify Him. Whenever you face difficulties, do not hesitate to obey God’s Word, including His teachings about tithing. God’s Word is true, and when you obey it, you will experience His work in your life. These experiences will solidify your faith and enable you to live a life that glorifies Him. May we all grow in unwavering faith and bring glory to God in all that we do.