Devotion 11 September 2026

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, Colossians 3: 1

READING: Colossians 3: 1-11

This passage describes Christians as being made alive in Christ, raised with Him, as He was raised from the dead, and that we should keep our minds on things above. This can sound quite vague and theatrical. What does being a Christian and “raised with Him” mean in practical terms?

Perhaps we should look at what Jesus did when He was raised from the dead. He walked away. Away from the cloths in which He had been wrapped, and away from the dark tomb, into the light of the garden. That is what we must do. Our lives may not resemble a tomb, but there are suffocating habits, stifling mindsets, and dark angers and resentments; there are acquaintances who exert bad influences on us, and places that offer us temptations that we find hard to resist. These things keep us from enjoying the true freedom of life in Christ. We need to identify all these, and turn our backs on them and walk away from them, and into the sunlight of Jesus’ presence.

After He was raised, Jesus sought out the companionship of His followers, visiting them in the Upper Room, walking with them on the Emmaus Road, making a fire and braaiing some fish for them by the lakeside. So too, should we seek out the fellowship of other followers of Jesus.

Then Jesus ascended to His Father, to become one with Him. We need to heed the close bond of communion that Jesus had with His Father. By simply and humbly giving thanks and praise for the events of our daily lives, we draw close to God. Even when things are at their worst, we can thank Him for the very air we breathe! We will find it then a short jump to thanking God for the lively movement of the trees in the breeze, and so many others little blessings in our lives. Soon we will understand what it means to “set your heart on the things above”.

Prayer

Lord God, we thank You that, through the death and resurrection of our Saviour, Your Son, we are able to turn our backs on the dark influences in our lives and be raised up to a new positive life in Christ. Thank You, Lord Jesus. Amen