Today’s devotion comes from Colossians 3:1-4.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4.
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This morning, I skipped reading the newspaper. Today, I want to think about and identify at least some things that are “above”, and I request your help. What are one or more of your favorite things above?
I plan to devote at least one more day (maybe more) to today’s Scripture. Ideally, I would like to compile the answers (without identifying the provider, of course) in a subsequent daily devotion to, so to speak, paint by words a water-color painting of heaven.
To help us think about these “things above”, we can consider categories of “things above”.
First, there are persons. “According to this truth and this Word of God, we believe in one only God, who is the one single essence, in which are three persons, really, truly, and eternally distinct, according to their incommunicable properties; namely, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. …” Article 8 of the Belgic Confession. There are also more persons in heaven.
There are spiritual qualities like righteousness and holiness.
There are physical things like precious stones.
We also know that there are some things that are not there such as tears. So, I think an answer which stated the absence of some things would also be helpful.
If you want to include the citation of book and verse, such as “precious stones – Revelation 21:19”, then it would be helpful, but it is not necessary.
If you want to make reasonable assumptions, such as I think dogs are in heaven, because Scripture gives some indication that at least some animals are in heaven, I want to hear about it. I am not going to try to refute nor debate. I am only going to compile. If someone suggests something that I strongly don’t think is a “thing above” (such as tears), then I just won’t include it in my compilation.
If you want to name a deceased relative of yours, and perhaps mention something inspiring about that relative, I want to hear about it, but please be general if you do not want me to mention his or her name. As a general example, “I look forward to seeing my grandfather in heaven, because he read Bible stories to me when I was a young child”.
Today’s Scripture does not limit “things above” to persons, spiritual qualities, or physical qualities, so let us really be expansive and think of as many “things above” as we can. Here is another “thing above” that does not fit within those three categories: “eternity”. So, think deeply.
You don’t have to state the best thing above or a long list of “things above”. Please just contribute something.
Ideally, I would like to get as great a variety of “things above” as possible to, so to speak, add as many colors as possible to my “water-color painting” of heaven. We all know that Heaven is not going to be just gold and white with only halos and harps! But, what is heaven going to be like?
I will get us started. One of my favorite “things above” is clear water. Revelation 22:1.
I want to remind you that I will not state your name. Your anonymous contribution will help all of us to set our minds on things above.
If you do submit a comment to this daily devotion on the web site, I will try to preserve your privacy. I will not “approve” your comment so as to post it. It should not show up, particularly if you have never submitted a comment to this web site before. If you have submitted a comment before to my web site and I posted it, it is possible that it will show up automatically as soon as you submit it, but in any event, I will closely monitor the comments, and if it surprisingly does show up, I will delete it as soon as possible (but there may be some delay, because I am not sitting at the computer all day).
So, what are one or more of your favorite things above? Thank you.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 