Colossians 2:20-3:4 "Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
The way to walk the Christian walk is not to lay on yourselves rules and regulations, but rather, to so fill your focus with the things of eternity that the temptations of this world pale and fade away from view.
So often Christians get this backward, telling themselves, "I can't have this, I can't touch that, must not look upon that, need to stop thinking about this thing..." And that just doesn't work. Instead, we need to so shift our whole focus, that thoughts of Christ, of Heaven, of eternity, crowd out thoughts of sinful or selfish desires. We need to turn our backs on those things, and turn our faces to Christ, to be so consumed by His glory and beauty that these other things are no longer even attractive to us.
So today my prayer is that Christ will be ever before me, present in my thoughts, central in my mind.
