In the book of Colossians, Chapter 3, verses 1-2, we encounter a profound statement: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” These verses invite us to contemplate the transformative concept of being risen with Christ and the subsequent call to seek the things above. In this blog post, we will delve into the meaning of “being risen” with Christ, explore the nature of the things above, and discover practical ways to seek them in our daily lives.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. -Colossians 3:1-2

What is the meaning of “risen with Christ”?

To understand this we need to read Colossians 2:12. When we refer to this verse, which states, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead,” we can understand that having faith in God, who raised Jesus from the dead, regarding the truth of Jesus being raised from the dead, is what is meant by “being risen with Christ.”

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. -Colossians 2:12

That means, I can believe that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead when I acknowledge the existence and purpose of Jesus Christ in this world and in my life. Only through this acknowledgment can I truly believe in the truth that “God raised Jesus from the dead” and experience the reality of being risen with Christ.

In Colossians 1:6, we learn that when we receive God’s truth, it begins to bear fruit in our lives. This means that the impact and essence of that truth start to manifest within us. When I believe that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead as truth, the essence of that truth starts manifesting in my life. Through that manifestation, I will be risen with Christ and be born again in Spirit.

Even though many of us know it already, it is good to remember this foundational truth. We commonly say, I believe Jesus or I believe God. But what do you believe? do you just believe that he exists? Even demons believe and acknowledge that the God exists. When you believe God raised Jesus, you are actually believing

1. Jesus died
2. Jesus was burried
3. Jesus was resurrected

When you put your faith in God who raised Jesus from the dead, you are actually acknowledging that Jesus died FOR YOUR SINS. You are actually making it your personal. That’s when the truth starts its manifestation.

What happens when you are risen with Christ?

That’s good to hear, but what happens when we are risen with Christ? If we examine the word “risen,” it signifies the act of something or someone transitioning from a state of being dead to being alive. Indeed, there is a resemblance between the concept of being “risen” and birth. Just as birth marks the beginning of a new life, being “risen” with Christ signifies a spiritual rebirth.

When reflecting on our own birth process, we can recall that we were once in the womb of our mother. However, upon emerging into the world, we experienced an entirely new environment. Everything around us was fresh and unfamiliar. In a similar way, when we are spiritually “risen” with Christ, we enter into a new spiritual realm and encounter a different perspective on life.

Just as we interact with our physical environment and learn from our experiences after birth, it is similarly essential to engage with the spiritual realm in order to learn and grow in our new life in Christ. For that we need guidance just like we had family in the physical world. That family is called the “Body of Christ” or “The Church”. This family helps us to start familiarising with the spiritual things by teaching us their experiences.

What are the things above?

Okay fine, when we are risen with Christ means, we are born again in Christ. But what are the things above? “Above” refers to heaven. When we say the things above, it refers to the things of heaven. In the same Colossians we can mediate few items listed.

1. Knowledge – Col 3:10
2. Bowels of mercy – Col: 3:12
3. Kindness – Col: 3:12
4. Humbleness of mind – Col: 3:12
5. Meekness – Col: 3:12
6. Long suffering – Col: 3:12
7. Forbearing – Col: 3:13
8. Forgiveness – Col: 3:13
9. Love – Col: 3:14
10. Peace – Col: 3:15

When we read the above list, we can understand that almost all of them are the characteristics of God. God is merciful, gracious, humbled himself to redeem us, displayed meekness through Jesus, he suffered long with our sinful nature, he forgave us, he loved us and he gave peace in our hearts. These are all the things above.

How can we seek them?

This is a revelation I received during the meditation of this portion and it really will encourage you and enable you to look at these in a new perspective. For that we need to understand what is seeking. Seeking means a deliberate attempt to find something.

Let us take an example of finding an important statement in a book. First we need to locate the book and then open that book and then you can start finding for that statement. If you don’t know where is that book, you will ask someone about it. In the same way, to seek or find these things which are of above, you need to locate, open and then find. We are getting there and be patient. Let us refer to another verse for help.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: -Matthew 7:7

1. Ask – Given
2. Seek – Shall Find
3. Knock – Be Opened

I we change the order of these things for our seeking process, When you ask for the things above, you will be given. Then when you knock or when you are desperate about them, they are opened in your life. Then you can find it by carefully following the proper process of finding it.

Again let us take the same example of the book. Once open it, to find the statement, you need to read through the pages. But if it is to find some lost coin in the room? you need to walk every corner and every inch and search for it. But if you are finding the right answer for question, you have to carefully remember what you studied and memorised. In the same way, to find these spiritual things of above, there is a process to find.

1. Ask: Ask the Lord about the significance of one of the things above. Ex. Mercy. Then you will be given the details of mercy. This happens by sending the right word and people of God to teach you about it.
2. Knock: Knocking represents the desperate desire to get into something. This we will display by a genuine desire to practice mercy in our life and we will pray to God to enable us to be merciful. Then God opens the door for finding the mercy in your life. When something is opened, that means, it is opened in your life.
3. Seek: Seeking means finding right? Now how to find mercy in your life? You need the circumstances to find it in your life. God will allow situations where you need to practice being merciful. Those who seeks will definitely find it as per the word of God.

Unless God teaches you about something, you will not get desire to pursue it. Unless you get a desire to pursue it, you will not try to implement it in your life. Unless you try to implement, you will not accomplish it. But when we believe in the God who raised Jesus from the dead, we are transformed and enrolled for the teaching of God about everything that we need to learn. God also appointed Holy Spirit in us to enable to desire for the things we learnt and to try pursuing them.

Heavenly Father,
We come before you with grateful hearts, having explored the profound truth of being risen with Christ and seeking the things above. We acknowledge that it is only through Your grace and guidance that we can truly understand and embrace these spiritual realities.
Lord, we thank You for the gift of faith that enables us to believe in the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and our identification with Him. We ask for Your continual revelation and understanding of what it means to be risen with Christ. Open our hearts and minds to the depths of this truth and its transformative power in our lives.
Help us, dear Father, to actively seek the things above with a genuine desire and hunger for righteousness. Grant us discernment to recognize the opportunities and circumstances where we can practice virtues like mercy, compassion, and love. Strengthen us to walk in obedience and alignment with Your will.
Lord, we humbly ask for Your grace and empowerment to implement what we have learned in this blog. May Your Holy Spirit empower us to live out the truth of being risen with Christ in our daily lives. Give us the courage to step out in faith, to love our neighbors, to forgive those who have wronged us, and to embody the virtues of Your kingdom.
We surrender our hearts, our desires, and our actions to You, Lord. May our lives be a reflection of Your love, grace, and mercy, as we seek to bring glory and honor to Your name. Guide us continually on this journey of faith and transformation, and may we continually grow in our understanding and experience of being risen with Christ.
In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.