Sunday: Heavenly-Mindedness
Daily Lesson for Sunday 8th of March 2026
Read Colossians 3:1-4. What condition does Paul indicate is necessary for us to be heavenly-minded? What do you think that means?
From a mountaintop, it is possible to survey a vast landscape that is all around you. From time immemorial, mountains have been frequented by those seeking a closer experience with God (see Psalms 121:1-2). Even human-made mountains, called ziggurats, have been constructed by pagans for a similar purpose—to meet with the gods. Interestingly, the city of Ur, which Abram was called to leave, had a very large ziggurat visible from miles around. But changing one’s elevation will never by itself draw anyone closer to heaven in a spiritual sense. Human effort never could.
Image © John Baker at Goodsalt.com
Instead, only through a miracle of grace, whereby we died with Christ and were raised with Him (figuratively pictured by baptism [Colossians 2:12-13]), is it possible to draw nearer to heaven.
Notice that from the beginning of Colossians 3:1-25, the repeated emphasis on what is above, that is, what there is in heaven: “those things which are above,” “where Christ is,” “things above,” “with Christ in God,” “with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4, NKJV).
Admittedly, there is much in the Christian life that defies explanation. How can a person really “die” and “be raised” when, to all appearances, he or she is the same person and has had no such life-and-death experience? There is much that does not make sense to the natural mind, uninfluenced by the Holy Spirit. But to those who are spiritually-minded, because they have received the new heart promised by God, death to sin and being raised with Christ are genuine realities. As the hymn affirms: “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”
Nevertheless, Paul gives these commands because there is a constant need for this spiritual life to be renewed (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). We can, indeed, fall away and be lost! And we are never safe from temptation in this life.
We must, therefore, choose daily to “seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). Our eternal life is safely “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, NKJV), but the outward expression of that life will be anything but hidden.
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Where are your thoughts: usually above or usually below? If the latter, how do you change their direction? |
I once stayed with some of my Australian relatives who were farmers. At the time they were ploughing their paddocks ready to plant sorghum. My uncle asked me if I would like to try my hand at ploughing. I was scared spitless at the prospect. I knew how to drive a tractor because we had one in New Zealand, but his tractor was huge and I had never seen anything like the plough, It was a 12 furrow disk plough. Furthermore, the paddock we were to plough was about ¾ kilometres long. I looked at the paddocks that had already been ploughed. The furrows were straight. How was I going to plough straight furrows. (I should add that this was long before satellite GPS guidance systems.)
My uncle told me that the trick was to find a tree or post at the far end of the paddock and keep the nose of the tractor pointing towards it. It worked. The combination of the distant goal and adjusting the steering so that I was always pointing towards it resulted in straight furrows.
In our spiritual lives we are often worried about producing straight furrows. We look back and check that the furrows are straight. If I had done that with my ploughing, who knows where the tractor would have ended up. The trick is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and adjust our lives, so we are always pointing towards him.
Paul had the same message for the Colossians:
Christians who follow that advice would make good farmers!
This is so edifying. Proud of you brethren.
What does “heavenly mindedness” possibly mean? The exact term is not found in the Bible; however, the phrase is strongly biblical. This phrase refers to a person whose thoughts, values, and priorities are oriented towards God and His kingdom. This is a person whose main desires, actions, thoughts, and meditations of the heart are heavenly. This idea is well expounded in Paul’s writings.
1. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” – Colossians 3:1–2
2. “Our citizenship is in heaven.” – Philippians 3:20
3. “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” – Hebrews 11:13–16
What does a heavenly-minded person look like?
a) Values the most eternal things over early things. That is, people, holiness, and the eternal kingdom than material possessions
b) Eternity is the main focus. Deeds and behaviour are oriented towards pleasing God rather than man.
c) Holds earthly things with less value. Less attachment to temporal earthly things, knowing that we are strangers and pilgrims here on earth.
How can one become more heavenly-minded?
1. Daily focus and meditation on the Word of God – allowing one’s life to be oriented towards eternity.
2. Having a healthy prayer and worship life – allowing one’s heart and purpose to dwell on God
3. Investing one’s life and resources in eternal things – value people, practice generosity, and seek the kingdom of God.
4. Reflecting on eternity – this world is not our final home.
5. Seeking for the renewal of one’s heart – a transformed heart will be tuned heavenward.
Always ‘carry extra oil in your lamps’.
How can we do that?
If while on Earth we set our minds on the things above, we have actually gained two things but if we set our minds on things on earth alone we gained nothing, I made this claim because whatever we acquired here on earth cannot guarantee our peace of mind, good health, security and long life without death. but if we set our minds on things above we will actually have peace that passes all understanding, where as there might be health challenges and insecurities, that peace will carry us through and we will also learn to live our lives as though transitioning to a better place.
In addition, if our minds are on the things above, Heaven’s mind will be on us for protection, providence, guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit, to fight our spiritual battles, to secure our lives and that of our loved ones and our properties, and to inspire and lead us in the right direction in order to help us make Heaven at last.
Eternal life is the ultimate reward worth aspiring for. Late Hulk Hogan granted an interview shortly after his baptism – a sign of his conversion to Christ, and he stated that the idea of living somewhere better forever is at the root of his decision to get converted to Christ. he could not explain the concept but the idea/teaching was enough for him.
What else is enough for us other than the idea of living somewhere better than this world of pain and insecurity forever?
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also – John 14:1-3
Secure a mansion in your mind!!!!!!!!
Being heavenly minded means that our lives should be characterized by the values and virtues of heaven. It implies that the love and fellowship of heaven must be seen and experienced even in this present age. If there is anything we will carry with us into heaven, it is love; therefore, our fellowship here must reflect the heavenly one (1 Corinthians 13:8–13). Setting our hope on heaven—and more specifically on Christ, who awaits us there (Hebrews 12:2)—means experiencing the transforming power of God that enables us to lay aside our sins and seek the good of our neighbors. The mind of Christ remains a treasure of wisdom, love, and humility, demonstrated as a wellspring of compassion, a beacon of righteousness, and a testament to the power of sacrificial love. To manifest the mindset of heaven, we must strive to think, feel, and act as Christ did. It is about aligning our thoughts, attitudes, and perceptions with those of heaven.
Realistically, we live on earth and we need to be earthly minded but as children of God,we need to submerge our earthly mindedness in heavenly mindedness.
What it means to have a heavenly mindset.
1. The words of the righteous bring hope to many.
2. Respecting the Lord adds years to your life.
3. The hope of the righteous brings joy.
4. The ways of the Lord bring strength to the righteous.
5. Good people will never parish from the earth.
6. The righteous will continue to speak wisdom.
7. Righteous People know the right things to say.
Proverbs 10:21,27-32.
Conclusion the heavenly mindset says, speaks, thinks, righteousness. Those with heavenly mindset also are hearers of the Word, soak it in, and out of love for the One who created us are doers of the Word. Soloman describes a doer well. Paul says doers are one’s who are willing to be made willing to do Gods pleasure. Philippians 2:13. God’s pleasure is that we be reconciled to Him. Colossians 1:20.
One don’t from last week is, as doers of the Word, don’t let a negative mindset, or if you prefer a earthly mindset sway you from what you are doing. Colossians 2:18.
Mark Finley says in essence, in his sermons are you ready for the shaking. A sermon of a series several months ago, if you have a heavenly mindset you won’t be shaken out. It sure brings us to reality of end times with the happenings beginning of March 1, 2026. The Angels of God are certainly holding back the winds of strife so more can have a chance to turn to Christ, as of 3/8/2026. I agree, be ready, and also agree, live now from day to day like Soloman depicted in his words above.
I find that phrase in Colossians 3:3 ” For you died, ..” absolutely fascinating. I never imagined that as I sit here with my heart beating and with my lungs inhaling and exhaling air, I would have ever heard those words. That statement carries my mind to an arena of thought that is amazing. First of all I enter the realm of reflection; reflecting on the life of Steve Cole who died. Wow ! And the text goes on to say -“your life is now hidden with Christ in God. “Colossians 3 :3 NIV. Since I died, then this must be a “new” life and also it is a “secure” life – “hidden with Christ in God” I used to feel a bit insecure knowing that once saved is not equivalent to being always saved. But what an assurance; my life is “hidden with Christ in God” – banked if you please, with Christ in God. By the way, when last did you go to the bank to withdraw money from your Deposit and was told – “Sorry your money is not available”
To be Heavenly minded is to keep oneself unspotted from the world to ask our Heavenly Father to renew our mind to give us victory over the lust of the eyes the flesh and the pride of life to beat our bodies into submission to the will of God and when we mature enough to understand we can’t do any of the above for ourselves we surrender everything to Jesus Christ. May God’s grace continue to be sufficient for all of us as we continue to live in Heavenly places with Christ
I think to some extent we get tripped up by the idea of being heavenly minded because we don’t really understand what it means. The saying “too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good” reflects this.
Being heavenly minded, in my opinion, is not about thinking about going to Heaven all the time. It’s not bad to look forward to this, but if that is our constant focus, we are probably not going to be useful. However, what is heaven really? Is it principally about mansions and streets of gold? I would propose that it is really about God. And so being heavenly minded is thinking as God thinks. And God’s main focus is saving people.
So you can be heavenly minded and spend a lot of time thinking about things on earth. We live on earth and this is unavoidable. But if we perceive and relate to them as God would, we are indeed heavenly minded.
Thank you, Christina, for putting it so clearly:
That’s how I understand it.
I also think of Phil. 2:5-8.
The nature of our thoughts truly shapes our lives. We are what we think. If we think positively, life can be hard, but the challenges come for personal growth; however, when we think negatively, “dark clouds” seem to always hang over us: this might even be an earthly and true idea. How do we change our minds in a good direction? LOVE, given from above, is the answer.