WISDOM WEDNESDAY

Vol. 1 Issue 16 - 8-3-22

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

- II Peter 3:18

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Greetings Church,

As a reminder we are working through the first four verses of Colossians 3 together. The last issue set the foundation as we considered, "If then you have been raised with Christ." Here we embraced the truth that in Christ we are not only forgiven our sins but are fully identified with Him in His resurrection. It is a promise that is sure and thus is the foundation for what Paul will share in the subsequent verses.

In this issue we will examine together, "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." As we do so Paul shares with us a command and two qualifications or focal points. Paul's command in response to the truth of our resurrection with Christ is for us to "seek the things that are above." In the NIV its says to "set your heart." In the NASB it says to "keep seeking." I believe the issue becomes one of constant pursuit not a whimsical decision to explore. We are to seek with the fullness of our lives, to seek with a longing for more and a longing for fulfillment. I liken it to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

The seeking then is to be done with much passion, like the day that baseball season was upon us growing up. I had made sure that my glove was ready for the season. It was oiled, a ball placed inside and tucked under my mattress to be conformed to the ball. The next morning I had made my bed and readied myself for school. The school day passed and I came home to the reality that my glove was missing. It wasn't under the mattress. It wasn't in all the other places it could be. I became frustrated as to where it had gone. I spent most of the afternoon seeking with great energy and passion. Everything that could hold a ball glove got emptied. I petitioned my mother and brother as to where it could be. I retraced my steps of the morning over and over again. It wasn't until it was time for bed that I found it. You see, my brother and I shared a room and we had trundle beds. I had taken my glove from under the mattress and placed it on the bed after making it and then rolled the bed under the other. The whole time the glove was right before me but in a place I did not look.

Unlike my search for my glove, Paul says, "seek the things that are above." We can search our whole lives and never find that which is most satisfying. We have to have the passion to "seek the things that are above." That are above gives us a location to look. The command is powerful as we bask in the wonder of the resurrection and our participation in it. Because of the resurrection of Christ we are to "seek the things that are above."

Please note that Paul doesn't leave the command alone. He does take the time to give two points of focus. Without them we would slip into Gnosticism or some type of existential nothingness. The first focal point is "where Christ is." Here is the reminder that He is risen and ascended on high. He has returned to the place from which He came. He has completed His mission to take away the sin that separates us from a Holy God. Jesus is the person we are to seek after, for He is above. Jesus is the one we are to be passionate about in the daily living out of our faith. We are not to empty ourselves and then be filled with nothing but be filled with the person and work of our Savior. When we consider the promises of Christ in our lives we will be enabled to seek Him with passion and energy so that He gets the glory.

The second focal point qualifies where Jesus is. Paul writes, "seated at the right hand of God." We seek where Christ is and Christ is "seated at the right hand of God." Three things come to mind concerning Christ being seated. The first deals with completion. He has fully returned to where He began and has completed the work and thus is seated. The second is that being "seated at the right hand of God" He is in a position of authority. He has taken His rightful place in the godhead as He is at God's right hand. The third thing that comes to mind is to ponder the question of what Jesus is doing as He is seated in a position of completion and authority. Paul writes in Romans 8:34, "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - ore than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." What a wonderful reality that the one who died for us and rose for us is now interceding for us at the right hand of God. The focal points of our seeking bring security and confidence to not only seek Him but to live out that reality daily.

So when we build upon the foundation of our allegiance to Jesus and seek the things that are above we are to be rooted in the work of Christ completed on the cross and His ongoing work of intercession on our behalf. When we seek in this manner there is nothing that we cannot do for His glory as the work is fully His and He enables the seeking through the power of the resurrection.

May the Lord Jesus quicken your longing for Him each and every moment of every day!!!

Blessings,

PBS