A Life With A Spiritual Perspective
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1 (CSB)
The world often distracts and discourages us in our attempts to serve the Lord. We witness the effects of sin in the fallen world as we encounter various horrific situations. These challenging moments can hinder our spiritual growth because we tend to view them from the perspective of fallen humanity rather than with an eternal, spiritual outlook. A vital part of the sanctification process involves learning and maturing in our ability to perceive life through a spiritual lens.
Seek the Things Above. The Apostle Paul told the church in Colossae and throughout Asia Minor that if they follow Christ, they must seek the things of Christ. The call to seek things above is a call to focus on the Lord and pursue His ways. It urges us to ignore the temptations and distractions of this world and strive to see the world through the eyes of Christ. When we seek the things above, sanctification occurs because we become more like Christ as we endeavor to view the world from the perspective of the things above.
Seek to Be Where Christ Is. We seek the things above because that is where Christ resides. We must desire to see Christ in every situation. Christ is not in the midst of sin but is seated at the right hand of the Father. Yes, the Lord is ever-present, but the truth is that we must look to the Lord because He is the one who guides and empowers us. If we attempt to live for the Lord but never look in His direction, we will never arrive at where He intends for us to go.
Seek to Live with a Spiritual Perspective. Living with a spiritual perspective means we view life differently than we did in our sinful state. In our sins, we adopt a viewpoint framed and influenced by the world. We pursue power and prestige for ourselves, valuing identity and importance through our fallen nature. When we embrace a spiritual perspective and develop the ability to see the world in that light, we gain the insight to recognize the Lord at work around us and understand how we can serve Him for such a time as this.
QUESTIONS
What perspective dominates the way you look at the world around you? How can your develop a greater depth of spiritual perspective?
What barriers attempt to keep you from seeing where Christ is seated? How can you overcome these barriers?
