A Now Word -- Be Transformed

A Now Word for CCC

Given on August 8, 2010

Be willing to be transformed.

Transformed by His Spirit.

Transformed into His likeness and all that involves.

Transformed to produce the fruit of His Kingdom.

(His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness,

His goodness, His faithfulness, His gentleness, His self-control)

Transformed to have eyes to see as He sees.

Transformed to have ears to hear as He hears.

Transformed to speak the Father's words.

Transformed to know the mind of Christ.

Transformed to go and do as He directs.

Be willing to be transformed.

Transformed by His Spirit.

MG

Set Your Hearts and Minds on Things Above

August 1, 2010

Since, then, you have been raise 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

I do not claim to understand all there is to this scripture, but some time last summer God began to reveal some things to me. Some of the key phrases here are: "set your hearts on things above", "set your minds on things above", "where Christ is seated at the right hand of God".

That tells me that my heart and my mind need to be pondering, thinking about and praying about things from a heavenly perspective. There is so much happening around us in this world that can be absolutely distracting to our daily walk. We become burdened by events, news articles, news reports, disasters, wars, lack of peace and the list could go on and on. I am not saying we are to stick our head in the sand and ignore national and world events but our perspective on those national and world events should be viewed "against the background of eternity".* We so often (and this is a natural thing to do) view our life and this world through only our natural eyes. I believe that Paul is encouraging us that there is more than meets our natural eyes. Our hearts and our minds need to view things from a heavenly perspective. That's not easy but we need to try and do it daily.

Jesus himself states in John 14:33 -- In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

BOTTOM LINE: Ask for a spiritual heart and a spiritual mind so that you may view events, circumstances, situations (national and worldly) from a heavenly perspective and not just your natural eyes.

MG

* William Barclay, The Daily Bible Study Series, Colossians, p. 147