“Since then, you have been raised 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)

The beautiful thing about coming into a true revelation of Christ is that it sets you free. It doesn't just release you from obligations that come from human ideas, but it also frees you to truly pursue the things of God. It unlocks a new way of living.

I recently shared my own story of struggling for years with materialism. For a long time, I felt trapped by the desire for more. The breakthrough didn't come from trying harder or creating more rules for myself. Instead, release came when I learned to find my contentment in the Lord rather than in possessions. This transformation wasn't instant. It was a journey of God revealing to me who I am in Christ, one discovery at a time.

As I started to genuinely seek the Lord, His truth began to rewrite my perceptions. The result was freedom in the very areas where I had struggled the most. The amazing thing is that this process works every time. This is why Paul gives us this powerful instruction: “Since, then, you have been raised 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). God is in the business of change, and this is His method.

Anchored in Heavenly Truth

Before we can set our minds on things above, we need to understand what is already true of us. Paul isn't asking us to do something to earn a new status; he is calling us to live in light of a status we already possess. The foundation is already laid.

Here are some of the amazing truths that anchor our new reality:

• Truth: Christ is alive and seated in heaven, a position of ultimate authority and victory (Ephesians 1:20; Romans 8:34).

• Truth: You have already been raised with Christ. Spiritually, your old self has died, and you now share in His resurrection life (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12).

• Truth: Your true citizenship is not on earth; it is in heaven. This is your home and your primary identity (Philippians 3:20).

• Truth: Christ's position is permanent, which means your position in Him is also secure and permanent (Hebrews 10:12; 1 Peter 3:22).

Because these things are unshakably true, we are urged to set our hearts and minds on this higher reality. We are called to align our thinking with our spiritual location.

The Renewal That Changes Everything

Paul draws a sharp contrast between "earthly things" and "things above." He lists earthly things as the root issues that plague humanity: “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed” (vs. 5). He then connects these internal desires to the external behaviors they produce: “anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language” (vs. 8).

Often, we try to fix our lives by addressing the behavior—the anger, the words, the actions. But this is like trimming weeds and expecting them not to grow back. Paul’s solution goes to the root. By setting our hearts on things above, we allow a process to begin that changes us from the inside out. When the heart and mind are changed, behavior naturally follows. We are reminded of this new reality: “You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9b-10).

This "renewing" is the key to transformation. Paul describes it in another letter: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). True, lasting change happens when we allow God's truth to become our truth, rewriting the default patterns of our thinking.

The Evidence of a Renewed Mind

This renewal process isn't just a mental exercise; it produces tangible fruit in our lives. As our minds are set on heavenly things, a new set of internal qualities begins to emerge. Paul lists them as the heavenly counterparts to our earthly nature: “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (vs. 12).

And just as earthly desires produce negative behaviors, these heavenly qualities produce beautiful actions. They cause us to bear with one another, forgive freely, love deeply, and strive for unity (vs. 13). This is the evidence of a heart that is truly connected to Christ. In Galatians, Paul calls this the "fruit of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not things we can produce through effort; they are the natural outgrowth of a life rooted in Christ.

Living the holy life we've been redeemed for is not about striving under a set of rules. It is about embracing our new identity and allowing the renewal of our minds to transform us. Setting our hearts and minds on heavenly things is the path to the life-giving change we all long for.

Let this truth sink in today. May you find your identity not in your struggles or successes, but in your unshakeable position in Christ. And may you set your mind on the things above, allowing His truth to bring the freedom and renewal your heart was made for.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. What earthly concern distracts you most, and how would focusing on your identity in Christ change your outlook?

2. Where are you trying to change behavior without renewing your mind, and what truth about God could help shift your thinking?

3. Which heavenly quality—compassion, kindness, patience—do you want to grow in, and how can you set your mind on Christ to nurture it?