“Since,
then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1, NIV).
We
all know the affections of our own heart. These affections focus upon
people, places and things that move and direct our hearts with fond
regard and emotion. Our spouses and families are deeply loved and our
friends are connected at various levels of affections. We at times chose
these affections and we at times will never know why we like and love
certain rich or delicate foods, certain panoramic scenes or things that
we collect or value throughout the course of our living. In
a darker and more foreboding sense, we know that our affections can
sometimes drift or be swayed by the affections of our heart into things
that would cause us to sin or even courses of lifestyle or actions that
are not holy or healthy.
We all know the things that capture,
motivate and hold the passions of our attentive mind and focus. From our
views on subjects as vastly different as politics and culture, we all
have areas of interest and desires where we find our attentions focused.
At times if we are completely honest in our self-awareness, we may even
find alarming the direction our minds might be enticed and tempted by
sin.
Much
of the time, as pilgrims on this vast and varied earth, that we both
physically and emotionally travel upon and through … we know the
familiar places where our affections and attentions like to stop and
visit. Faith enters these realms of affections and attentions but many
times it has to compete with our focus in what is seen, attended to or
felt in our hearts.
Yet
our faith in Christ, is always in a tension as it demands our leaving
the old affections and attentions that we see, think and feel behind …
as we are reborn to continually place our heart and mind in and upon the
Christ who is now our Lord and Master. It is in the intentional and
consistent releasing of the old and the natural affections and
attentions around and within us that we change our lives. This change of
the will allows the continual rebirth of those affections and
attentions to be lovingly and thoughtfully placed upon things that are
above. These things, which are above, come from Christ and they bring
the abundant and eternal life He both promises and delivers.
“Set
your mind on things above and not on earthly things, for you have died
and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2, NIV).
Suggested Reading … Colossians 3
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