A new year is a time for a fresh start, a renewal, we’ve been handed a clean slate. But every day is like that for the believer. We can always begin again. Every assembly of the Lord’s people is special.
Col. 3:1-11. Keep seeking things above, is the message- the best way to start anew. How will we accomplish being heavenly minded?
1. If then you have been raised up with Christ…. The key phrase being “with Christ.” Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever, Heb. 13:8. Jesus is the supreme being who has ever lived. No-one else has impacted the world like Jesus Christ. What an inheritance we have in Him. We have been delivered from the domain of darkness. Jesus is the power that works in our life to accomplish what we read of in chapter three of Colossians.
2. The challenge of being heavenly minded is the variety of loves and affections which vary in strength and intensity. If we’re not careful our love for Jesus will be replaced by some other love. We need to have a balance with those other loves. We cannot allow them to take a prominent place in our hearts, whatever it is we love to do.
3. Also, everything has to be filtered by identity. Our life being hidden in Him means we are wrapped up with Him, every other passion being subservient to our passion for Him. This will affect our participation in everything else – what we do it, how much we do it…
4. When Jesus is supreme in our heart we will be more successful in showing restraint in the other areas of our life. There are things we have to say NO to. We have to be careful with our tongue, it can get out of control.
Theme for 2023: Seek first the kingdom of God. Matt 6:33. This is an every day resolution. A lot can happen in a year. Maybe 2023 will be better than 2022. Maybe it won’t. So we have to keep seeking the things above. There is nothing that holds more value, more promise than an unwavering commitment to do so.
All glory to the King!
Sermon by Tony Mauck
