Colossians 3:1-4

So today and this week i have been trying to meditate chapter 3 in Colossians. I actually have to remember verses 1-17 for my midterm and final. So this might be fun or a burden, but i believe that this is an awesome opportunity to actually learn the word more. I will say it is hard to meditate on one passage due to multiple readings, but i am actually learning more. Before coming to Biola i was actually reading Colossians for the first time, but i never held it in, so i think this is the opportunity to break it down and digest it to build my inner flame that Christ holds.

So as i read the first verse it says in the NIV verson, " Since, then, you have be raise with Christ, set your heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God". Paul writes directly confirms that we as Christians have the grace of being raise with Christ. Its as if Paul is saying, dude you have been raise, listen. I am not sure of the Greek word of translation, bu the word "since" has this implication of hey listen. Listen to the words of the letters, for they are testimonies of truth and grace. He continues to elaborate that our hearts must be on things above. Surly this is important for our walk. Our hearts are the core of whom we are. The heart is the identity. Where we lay our hearts is where we lay ourselves. Surly our love is meant to be in the hand of God.

In verse 2 it writes in a quick direct manner after verse one, "Set your minds on the things above, not on earthly things." Once again i am not sure of the context in Greek, but surly this verse is meant to be broken down solo. Paul might have insisted that our minds too are vulnerable. I mean the means of learning the Bible and who God, Christ, and Holy Spirit starts from the mind then to the heart and to our hands and works. God intended for creation to reason. For reason and faith are a God give trait that we have since we are in the image of God. Reason and faith need this 50/50 balance. In this our minds too need to set on the things above for it trickles down to our hearts where all can be corrupted. Paul writes in Philippians 1:9-11 " ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Surly we have this connection between mind and heart.

In verse 3 Paul continues, " For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Here we are taken apart and reminded that we are not bones, but made alive with Christ in God. We have always been dead. Since sin we have been dead. It is through Grace that God has intended even from the first instance of the Fall, that we are alive. This ultimate Grace through Christ is all we need. For Paul rights this double secureness, "

With Christ in God" Since we are with Christ surly we will be in the right hand of God as well. We are meant to worship God and it is beyond comprehension that we have worship for eternity. Yet, through Christ and being with in and having him feel our temptations and death, we are welcome to the place we are not worthy to enter. Maybe we can be in right hand of God with Christ, but it doesnt matter, for once we are with Christ we will be in the presence of God forever.

Verse for 4 finishes the paragraph of thought by saying, "When Christ, who is your life, appears, the you too will appear with him in glory." There is this concept that by grace we come to glory. This glory of glorifying God as our creator. Christ is our life and we will appear. There is no doubt in this sentence, but full faith. Surly we will come with Christ by his ultimate grace and be in the mist of the glory.

Paul knows that by living with our heart and mind on the things of heaven and on Christ can we appear to God in glory and glorify him in his holy presence.