Yesterday we looked into what it means to set our hearts on things above (Day 18):
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God,”
(Colossians 3:1, NIV84).
Today we’re going to look at the same verse as it appears in the ESV:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God,”
(Col. 3:1, ESV).
Set or Seek?
Many other translations use the verb “seek” instead of “set.”
In the KJV, Col. 3:1 reads, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
In the Interlinear Bible: “If then you have been raised with Christ, the things above seek, where Christ is at [the] right hand of God sitting.”
Intrigued by the difference in the translations, “set your hearts” or “seek the things,” I turned to some study helps and looked up the Greek verb.
Strong’s #2212: zéteó
| Of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life) — be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) |
| to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) |
| ask, endeavor, insist, look for, require, search (for), seek, strive, try (AMG’S Annotated Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the NT) |
Looking Up
In the “Choose the Right Synonym for seek” section on merriam-webster.com, it says, “SEEK, SEARCH, and HUNT mean to look for something. SEEK may be used in looking for either material or mental things.”
Yesterday we focused on setting; today we are looking up.
Here’s how The Message puts it:
“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.
Pursue the things over which Christ presides.
Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.
Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is.
See things from His perspective,”
(Col. 3:1-2, MSG).
Look Up Check Up
- Am I serious about living life with Christ, in Christ, through Christ?
- Am I acting like I’m serious about my faith?
- Do I pursue the things of Christ’s kingdom?
- Am I instead absorbed in the things of this world?
- Am I alert to what is going on in the spiritual realm?
- Am I trying to see things from God’s perspective?
To answer these questions honestly, we need to think about:
where & how we spend our time,
where & how we spend our money,
& how we treat others.
Day 19 PRAYER:
Father God in heaven,
Thank You for our eternal life in Christ Jesus!
Thank You for making us permanent citizens of Your Heavenly Kingdom! (Philippians 3:20).
Help me to clearly see those places in my life where I need to look up & seek Your ways.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” (Psalm 139:23-24).
I love You, Lord. Thank You for first loving me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
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