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Friday, April 7, 2006

"Heavenly Climatization"

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3).

This last Sunday in church I heard a phrase in the pastor's prayer that especially caught my attention. He prayed on behalf of himself and the congregation that God would "climatize us to the atmosphere of heaven."  To climatize means to acclimate or become acclimated.

One of the great ongoing issues we all deal with in one way or another in our walk with Christ is keeping a heavenly perspective in the midst of the stuff of life. Essentially we are naturally very acclimated to the climate of this physical life, or as the text states, "on earthly things."

But today's Scripture portion is a strong call to heavenly climatization.  Spiritually we who have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior have been "raised with Christ." This speaks of our present position. Paul had written in the previous chapter that, "you have been given fullness in Christ" (2:10).

Since we have been raised with Christ we are to set our hearts and minds on things above. This is an act of the will and must be an ongoing attitude in the life of the believer. The experiences of yesterday, however wonderful, need to be regularly refreshed.

We must seek to live with a heavenly perspective in life. Many years ago I committed the daily Scripture portion to memory.  Today I want to keep this heavenly perspective and do so by personalizing the verse. "Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things.  For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God."  Will you join me today?


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer: Father, I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Your Son where I find redemption, the forgiveness for my sins.  It is in Your holy kingdom that my heart is transformed from an earthly nature to that of a heavenly nature.  As I clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience my affections for the temporary pleasures of this world diminish in light of the eternal joys to come.  Remind me of this when I am tempted to give up that which is lasting for that which is but momentary.


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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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