Things Above

One of the ways I know the Lord is speaking to me is through the same message from various places (seven times, seven ways). Recently, it’s been a specific scripture. I’ve seen it on social media, it has shown up in devotionals I’ve read, and my Pastor has even used it as a reference in his sermon recently.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the Earth.

Colossians 3:2

When a pattern like this occurs, I have to ask myself is He preparing my heart to be ready to handle something OR is He helping me recognize what I am struggling with in the present. I had to wonder which was it for this scripture?

I did something Mother Mary often did, pondered it in my heart. Then a couple of things happened.

First, my husband (Daniel) and I were watching the Christmas with the Chosen movie at the theater when something occurred to me that had never occurred to me before. We have more possessions than Jesus had when He was on Earth. In fact, we have much more. Luke 9:57 says “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.”

Jesus didn’t even have one single place to lay His head. While I am not rich by the world’s standards, I have so much. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do with this revelation in the moment, other than to ponder it in my heart along with the scripture.

The second thing occurred three days later. Daniel and I were clearing out a room in the morning, preparing for my brother to do some construction that day. I had just placed one of my lanterns on the bookshelf in the garage and came back upstairs. Thirty seconds later I hear a crash and glass shattering. I turn to the door and see him sitting the chair down he had been carrying. “Did you just break my lantern? I had just put it on that shelf!” I said as tears welled up in my eyes. He said, “I didn’t mean to”. I pressed the base of my palms into my eyes and cried.

Over a lantern! One lantern of many that I own by the way. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

After a minute, I wiped my eyes and told Daniel to throw it away. He said, “you can still use it, only one side was broken.” In a much more firm tone I said, “No, just throw it away”.

While I felt justified to ‘grieve’ over my possession in the moment, I was quickly reminded of the scripture AND the revelation I’d had about my earthly possessions vs. Jesus’. It all came together in my mind. It made sense.

Things on this Earth DO NOT MATTER! Not in the end, they don’t.

I have been blessed of God with many Earthly possessions, just like many of you. That in itself is ok. What isn’t ok, is letting our things distract us from what really matters – things above. Jesus not only preached against worry over things (even as essential as food, shelter, and clothing – Luke 12 is meaty on this subject), He was also an example to us of how to live.

You see, Jesus is God Himself, in human form. He is literally the creator of the universe. He owns it all. He could have lived His human life on Earth in wealth and ease. Yet he didn’t. He chose to show us that we would have all that we needed to live this life and live our purpose, regardless of Earthly possessions.

Does that mean we shouldn’t have things? No! Be grateful for all you have been given by God, use it to glorify and honor Him, and don’t worry or fret if it is taken from you.

I’m so thankful that while my tone and words can sometimes get me into trouble, Jesus is faithful to send gentle reminders. He might have to send it multiple times, multiple ways but I eventually catch on! 😉

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the example of living minimalist lives here on Earth, and for providing us reminders of Your Word when we need it most to live a life that is more reflective of Your image than our own. May we live everyday asking for John 3:30 to be true in our lives, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”. Thank you for forgiveness when we fail, and for Your mighty hand to help us back up. In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Digging Deeper (a new opportunity for you to dig in deeper on your own for personal reflection, if you want)

You may be thinking, “this scripture is much deeper than physical possessions”. You’re right, my story just happens to be one of physical possessions. Things on the Earth can mean anything on Earth that causes us to take our eyes off the end goal, our Heavenly home, our Lord Jesus Christ, our calling and purpose.

The passage goes on to call out some of those things in verse 5;8-9, “⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.; ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”

It also helps us reflect on what the things above are in verses 12 -17:

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Grab your journal and pen for this:

• What things on this Earth are you focused on?
• What things above could use your focus?