WFW: Heavenly Minded

Col 3: 2-3 "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
What does it mean to "Set our minds on things above"? I believe that Luke 19 has a great example:
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house."
Zacchaeus had set his mind on one fact: He would see Jesus. But he had some setbacks. His biggest problem was that he was short. He may have tried to get someone to hold him up, but he was a hated tax-collector. Those two things were against him. Zacchaeus could have given up and thought, "Well, I guess I'm not going to see Jesus today. Nobody likes me... I'll just go home." But he didn't give up; he had his mind made up that He would see Jesus, so he climbed the tree. In the end, He saw Jesus, Jesus spoke to him, and Zacchaeus got to eat with Jesus in his own home! Zacchaeus had set his mind on Jesus, and he didn't let anything stop him -- He had his mind made up that this is what he was going to do and he pushed past all the setbacks. I believe that this is the message of Colossians, and I think this is what Paul was trying to say in 1 Corinthians 9:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Zaccheaus had his mind set on Jesus, and Paul had his mind set on running the race and finishing well. What a challenge this presents to us today; do we set our minds on Christ? Do we keep going no matter what comes at us to try to stop us, or do we give up in defeat? What do you set your mind on?

Comments

  1. AnonymousWednesday, September 9, 2009 at 3:10:00 PM EDT

    Excellent, Miss S! If only more people were determined to see Jesus, instead of just going to church.

    Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousWednesday, September 9, 2009 at 6:34:00 PM EDT

    Great post! Zacchaeus had to not think about what others thought, because he wanted to see Jesus! I think this is an important message to many of us today... don't let what other people think rob you from seeking God.

    ReplyDelete
  3. RebeccaWednesday, September 9, 2009 at 8:05:00 PM EDT

    What a wonderful and inspiring lesson! And it's SO relevant in today's world, where there is pressure to conform to the world's standards or be "square." Great post!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rachel ReneeThursday, September 10, 2009 at 11:41:00 PM EDT

    Great Scriptures! Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus and Jesus ate at his home! Reminds me... God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! Very encouraging! We need determination to see Jesus.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Other AliceMonday, September 14, 2009 at 2:34:00 PM EDT

    Wow! Excellent post, Miss Szymanski; we need to remember to set our minds on things above, where Christ is, and we can be more like Him. The analogy of Zaccheaus speaks so clearly. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

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