“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 our mind’s eye, we see the golden streets of Heaven when we read the Book of Revelation, but we are often too preoccupied with gripes to actually think about the glories of Heaven. When we are complaining while standing in a long checkout line at the grocery store, our sour attitude does not reflect the Savior. Instead, our hearts should be overflowing with gratitude for life and for all things.
If we thought more about Heaven, then we would not huff and puff so much. In a world full of problems, it is helpful to think about the blessed assurance of a better place. In Heaven, every problem is fixed, no arguments exist and no hospitals are needed. Colossians 3:1-2 says, “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.”
Though we cannot always get a better job or living situation, we can improve our attitude. If we find our joy in the Lord, then we learn to be happy anywhere, even if we don’t have much stuff and everything does not go our way. Then we join the apostle Paul in saying, “[S]orrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10).
A wise person takes petty grievances to the trash dump and replaces toxic thoughts with wholesome, Heavenly music. When the Holy Spirit replaces hatred, then we are now “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com.
