Set Your Mind on Things Above

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Scripture • World English Bible

Colossians 3:1–4

WEB

¹If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

²Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

⁴When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain

Reflection

Colossians calls believers to a decisive reorientation of vision and identity. If you have been raised with Christ, your primary allegiance is no longer to the passing demands and desires of this world. Verse 1 moves from status to action—because Christ is exalted at God’s right hand, you are to seek where he is. Verse 2 gives the practical discipline: set your mind on heavenly realities rather than earthly worries. This is not wishful thinking but conviction rooted in the believer’s new identity: you died with Christ (v. 3), and your life is now hidden with him in God. That hiddenness is not defeat but protection and promise. It assures you that the things that really matter—the presence and purposes of Christ—are secure. Finally, verse 4 anchors hope in a future revelation. The same Christ who is now hidden will be revealed as our life, and when he appears we will be revealed with him in glory. So the call to heavenly-mindedness is both present obedience and future hope: it shapes how we think, what we value, and how we endure. This passage centers everything on Jesus—his present lordship, our new identity in him, and the promised unveiling that will consummate our life with him.

Putting Faith Into Action

Set aside 15 minutes each morning to read a short Scripture passage and intentionally refocus your thoughts on Christ—write one sentence about how that truth changes your priorities for the day.
When you face a decision or temptation, pause and ask, “How does seeking the things above shape this choice?” Then act in a way that reflects your hidden life in Christ (e.g., choose generosity over self-interest, patience over anger).
Join or start a small accountability trio that meets weekly to honestly share struggles with earthly desires, pray for one another to set minds on Christ, and report one concrete step taken toward loving and living like Jesus.

Prayer

Father, thank you that in Christ we have been raised and our true life is hidden with you. Remind us that Christ is our life, and when he is revealed we will be revealed with him. Help us to seek the things that are above and to set our minds on Christ, not on earthly distractions. Strengthen us to live in the hope of your coming revelation, keep our hearts fixed on Jesus, and empower us to reflect his life now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memory Verse

Colossians 3:2 — Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. (WEB)

“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.”

Keep Going Continue to Part 10 Put the Old Life to Death — Living the New Self in Christ Colossians · Colossians 3:5–11 Read the next devotional →

Bible Context

Read all of Colossians 3

Colossians 3

World English Bible • WEB

¹If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

²Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

⁴When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

⁵Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

⁶For these things’ sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

⁷You also once walked in those, when you lived in them,

⁸but now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.

⁹Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

¹⁰and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

¹¹where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, or free person; but Christ is all, and in all.

¹²Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

¹³bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

¹⁴Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

¹⁷Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

¹⁸Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

²⁰Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

²²Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

²³And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

²⁴knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

²⁵But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.