If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1, 2 ESV)

Seek, set your mind on, things that are above. Just as Jesus said, seek first God’s Kingdom. The challenge for Christians is living for the “above”, while living in the “below”. Challenge is an understatement. Struggle might be more suitable. The verb is Seek, Set – it is active, a conscious effort. If I could read the original text it would probably tell me that it is in the “progressive tense” in the sense that it is a constant, ongoing, action. Seek. Set your mind. Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry… you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another. (Colossians 3:5, 8, 9a ESV)

The Bible acknowledges that it is there, in us, in the life of a Christian. It is something we have to deal with. “Put to death what is earthly in you”, I won’t be surprised if in the original text this is also in the progressive tense.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)

As with the previous passage, I don’t think this is meant to be an exhaustive list, but a guide. Besides I don’t think we can obey these perfectly. This guide shows us what it looks like, for a person seeking what is above compared to a person seeking what is below. Somehow, we know, we can tell. It is the application of it that is the difficult part.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 ESV)

To cap it off, a simpler guide. Useful for people like me who get overwhelmed. Whatever we think, say, and do – do so as one carrying the name “Christ”. In, and through Him. Because seriously, this is so difficult to do – impossible – by only our own strength.

God chooses even from the womb, before we are even born. We have not even lived a single second, so we are not chosen because of our merits, and certainly, not of our demerits. Even if we’ve made bad decisions, or not so smart decisions, or indecisions, if we heed God’s call, He will restore us. He has a purpose for us. He has called us to be light in the world, reflecting his Son.

I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6b ESV)

I like this.

they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. And I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up. (Isaiah 49:10, 11 ESV)

Forgiven AND not forgotten

But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. (Isaiah 49:14, 15 ESV)

“The people complained…”

They complained about something so miraculous – manna, food from heaven! – that had been so commonplace that they don’t realize how amazing it is anymore. Look around, look at your life, miracles and blessings abound!

“The rabble among them…”

It’s easy to blame it on the “uncouth”, immature, mob or whatever for inciting discontent, tempting “the faithful”, causing trouble – but I believe that those who are (more) mature should be responsible to lead and guide those who are not. In an absence of a leader, or in this case with Moses – an overwhelmed leader, the mob rules.

“I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me…”

Being a leader is a heavy responsibility. It’s amazing people even aspire to be one. Moses had to deal with both external and internal pressures. It seems like it’s the same for all leaders in the Bible.

“Gather seventy elders of Israel…”

Again, delegation – passing of the torch. It’s a common theme. There are obvious leaders, but there are also those who are not so obvious to us, but God sees them as leaders.

The great thing about having developed a routine of reading the Bible and setting aside a specific time with God is that, even on days when I don’t feel “at my usual self” there is this feeling (or voice?) that makes me go through it regardless of what I feel. Of course, just going through the motions / doing one’s quiet time just for the sake of doing it is not recommended, but I believe it’s better to just go ahead and start then let God’s word and his Spirit do their powerful work, rather than not starting at all. Besides, as I have experienced before, God’s word speaks to us in different ways based on where we are in our spiritual journey. That’s not to say that the Bible is interpreted differently per person, but it is God who decides how to reveal Himself through his Word. So today is one of those days, let’s see what God has in store.

Just 3 verses, wow. Heading is: “I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul”.

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 131:1-3 ESV)

In other versions, the psalmist talks about not concerning himself (not being anxious with?) “great matters” or “grandiose plans”. Instead, the psalmist is quiet, calm, content, and finds rest in God.

There you go. God knows where you are more than you do. He delivers his message to you at the right time, when you need it. Keep the lines of communication open and He will keep you in the right path.

I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’ “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ (Isaiah 48:5-7 ESV)

We go through difficult situations that require us to wait, to trust in God and not in others or in ourselves, so that we realize and remember that our God is Faithful and Powerful. Because of our shortsightedness, we have a tendency to misplace who we give credit to. We are hard-headed and it takes multiple instances for us to develop a mind that fully understands the sovereignty of God. We know the feeling of having someone get credit for something they didn’t do or deserve – it sucks. We protest, “Foul! Unfair!”. Same thing.

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:11 ESV)

God is really on the losing side of this “deal” with man. Even if we break our part, he has to keep His because he cannot be untrue to his nature. He has given us all things, without expectations, knowing that some will respond with rejection, unbelief, indifference and even mockery. This is a terrible deal, and yet here it is.

Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; (Isaiah 48:18 ESV)

We make mistakes, we look back – briefly – to learn from it. There are second chances with God. He says “Go, shout with joy and proclaim it”. He is our Redeemer, and great is His goodness.