The Pursuit That Defines Your Life
Jesus, Our Pursuit | Colossians 3:1-11
Sunday, April 12, 2026
What are you chasing right now with your life?
Perhaps you've never considered yourself in active pursuit of anything. But here's the truth: none of us are idle. Our minds are never at rest. We're always thinking something, desiring something, pursuing something. The question isn't whether we're in pursuit—it's what we're pursuing.
Even pursuing "nothing" is pursuing something. When we claim we're not chasing anything, what we really mean is we're pursuing our own comfort, our ease, life arranged exactly as we want it. We're all in motion, always. The critical question is: in what direction?
The Foundation for Everything
The premise is simple yet profound: If Jesus is who Scripture declares Him to be—the one in whom "the whole fullness of God dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9)—and if He did what the Bible says He did—nailing the record of our sin debt to His cross and bringing us forgiveness—then the Christian's life should be spent in pursuit of Christ.
Not occasionally. Not when convenient. But as the defining characteristic of our existence.
Colossians 3:1-2 gives us the roadmap: "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."
Two commands. Two directions for our lives.
Seek the Things Above
The first command is to seek the things that are above. This isn't a one-time decision but an ongoing pursuit. The word "seek" means to pursue in order to obtain what the heart desires.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: desire drives pursuit. What you desire is what you seek.
So the question becomes painfully personal: Do you desire the righteous things above where Christ is seated? Or do you desire the unrighteous things below where humanity wallows in sin?
Given our still sin-affected minds and the relentless modern bombardment of temptation, we may answer this question multiple times in a single day. In any given moment, our hearts are tempted toward the things of this world. And we must choose: What does my heart desire? What am I pursuing? What do I want?
Set Your Mind on Things Above
The second command moves from desire to thought: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
To set your mind on something means to concentrate on it, to comprehend it fully. We're called to concentrate on the things above where Christ is seated so we can understand who He is, what He has done for us, the righteousness He calls us to, and the resurrected life He enables us to live.
Here's why this matters: thoughts develop our perception. Our perception develops our attitude. Our attitude produces our words and actions.
You ultimately become whatever you concentrate on.
Just as "you are what you eat," you become what you desire and what you concentrate on. This is why these two commands stand at the threshold of practical Christian living. Before we can live differently, we must desire differently and think differently.
The Diagnostic Questions
How do we know what we're really pursuing? Four diagnostic questions reveal the truth:
Work backwards through these questions, and you'll discover that the actions of your life, the words from your mouth, and the state of your mind all trace back to what you're putting in your mind—what you're seeking and concentrating on. Above or below. Heaven or earth.
Three Reasons to Pursue Things Above
Why should we live this way? Colossians 3:1-4 gives us three compelling reasons:
First, because you were raised together with Christ. When you believed in Christ, you died with Him. He put off your body of flesh. It still lingers until glory, but it no longer controls you. In Christ, you have freedom to overcome sin. Your desires should be set on Him above.
Second, because your life is hidden together with Christ. Your life is no longer at risk in this world. It's kept safe and secure with Christ in God, at the right hand of the Father. You couldn't be more secure. So why submit to the sinful desires of this world when this is your new reality?
Third, because you will appear together with Christ in glory. In Christ, the Father has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints. You've been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of light. Why desire the things of this sinful age when glory awaits you?
Killing Sin and Ceasing Sinful Activities
With the foundation laid, Colossians 3 turns intensely practical: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
The language is stark. Kill earthly desires. Not manage them. Not reduce them. Kill them.
Why such strong language? Because sin, if not put to death immediately, will be coddled and ultimately bring death. Even for Christians, coddling sin kills relationships, marriages, joy, and brings hurt to people we never intended to harm. Sin is deadly. That's why it must be killed.
One way to begin killing sin is by cutting off its food supply. If we allow ourselves to continue seeing, hearing, and taking in the very things we know lead us down sinful paths, we're fools. Starve sin to death in the mind.
The Old Coat and the New
The word picture in Colossians 3:9-10 is of taking off a raggedy old coat and putting on a beautiful new one. We're to take that old self dominated by sin off and set it aside. We're to put on who we are in Christ—the new person we've become through His resurrection.
The old coat included anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, and lying. These characterized our former life. But in Christ, we've put off the old self and put on the new self, "which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Colossians 3:10).
As we kill sin and shift our focus heavenward, something amazing happens: the image of God begins to radiate in us.
Christ Is All
"Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).
Whatever anyone's background—national, cultural, ethnic, societal, economic, or sinful—the death and resurrection of Christ makes saints out of sinners and enables them to live the resurrected life.
This is why the church gathers in the name of Christ. Not in the name of a leader, denomination, or tradition, but Christ alone. Because Christ is in all. Christ is all. Every believer is here because of and only because of Him.
Simplify Your Life in Christ
We live in a dizzying world of busyness. Work is busy. Our children's lives are busy. We fill retirement with endless activities. We even make church incredibly busy. But we need to simplify our lives in Christ. Because if we don't simplify, we won't accidentally find time to be in God's Word, to pray, to reflect on Scripture.
Consider your life. How much time do you spend with the Lord versus how much time you spend with the world? Make a commitment to simplifying your life to incorporate more of Jesus in your daily walk.
The resurrected life can only be lived in the power of the resurrected Christ. And He provides everything we need to live the life He has given us.
What are you pursuing today?
Perhaps you've never considered yourself in active pursuit of anything. But here's the truth: none of us are idle. Our minds are never at rest. We're always thinking something, desiring something, pursuing something. The question isn't whether we're in pursuit—it's what we're pursuing.
Even pursuing "nothing" is pursuing something. When we claim we're not chasing anything, what we really mean is we're pursuing our own comfort, our ease, life arranged exactly as we want it. We're all in motion, always. The critical question is: in what direction?
The Foundation for Everything
The premise is simple yet profound: If Jesus is who Scripture declares Him to be—the one in whom "the whole fullness of God dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9)—and if He did what the Bible says He did—nailing the record of our sin debt to His cross and bringing us forgiveness—then the Christian's life should be spent in pursuit of Christ.
Not occasionally. Not when convenient. But as the defining characteristic of our existence.
Colossians 3:1-2 gives us the roadmap: "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."
Two commands. Two directions for our lives.
Seek the Things Above
The first command is to seek the things that are above. This isn't a one-time decision but an ongoing pursuit. The word "seek" means to pursue in order to obtain what the heart desires.
Here's the uncomfortable truth: desire drives pursuit. What you desire is what you seek.
So the question becomes painfully personal: Do you desire the righteous things above where Christ is seated? Or do you desire the unrighteous things below where humanity wallows in sin?
Given our still sin-affected minds and the relentless modern bombardment of temptation, we may answer this question multiple times in a single day. In any given moment, our hearts are tempted toward the things of this world. And we must choose: What does my heart desire? What am I pursuing? What do I want?
Set Your Mind on Things Above
The second command moves from desire to thought: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
To set your mind on something means to concentrate on it, to comprehend it fully. We're called to concentrate on the things above where Christ is seated so we can understand who He is, what He has done for us, the righteousness He calls us to, and the resurrected life He enables us to live.
Here's why this matters: thoughts develop our perception. Our perception develops our attitude. Our attitude produces our words and actions.
You ultimately become whatever you concentrate on.
Just as "you are what you eat," you become what you desire and what you concentrate on. This is why these two commands stand at the threshold of practical Christian living. Before we can live differently, we must desire differently and think differently.
The Diagnostic Questions
How do we know what we're really pursuing? Four diagnostic questions reveal the truth:
- What are you putting in your mind? What are you feeding your thoughts? More than anything else, what's going in?
- What is the state of your mind? Is your mind filled with peace or anxiety? Is it stable or constantly fluctuating?
- What is coming out of your mouth? Are your words encouraging, helpful, and joyful? Or bitter and angry?
- What is displayed in your actions? When people observe your life, what do they conclude about you?
Work backwards through these questions, and you'll discover that the actions of your life, the words from your mouth, and the state of your mind all trace back to what you're putting in your mind—what you're seeking and concentrating on. Above or below. Heaven or earth.
Three Reasons to Pursue Things Above
Why should we live this way? Colossians 3:1-4 gives us three compelling reasons:
First, because you were raised together with Christ. When you believed in Christ, you died with Him. He put off your body of flesh. It still lingers until glory, but it no longer controls you. In Christ, you have freedom to overcome sin. Your desires should be set on Him above.
Second, because your life is hidden together with Christ. Your life is no longer at risk in this world. It's kept safe and secure with Christ in God, at the right hand of the Father. You couldn't be more secure. So why submit to the sinful desires of this world when this is your new reality?
Third, because you will appear together with Christ in glory. In Christ, the Father has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints. You've been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of light. Why desire the things of this sinful age when glory awaits you?
Killing Sin and Ceasing Sinful Activities
With the foundation laid, Colossians 3 turns intensely practical: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5).
The language is stark. Kill earthly desires. Not manage them. Not reduce them. Kill them.
Why such strong language? Because sin, if not put to death immediately, will be coddled and ultimately bring death. Even for Christians, coddling sin kills relationships, marriages, joy, and brings hurt to people we never intended to harm. Sin is deadly. That's why it must be killed.
One way to begin killing sin is by cutting off its food supply. If we allow ourselves to continue seeing, hearing, and taking in the very things we know lead us down sinful paths, we're fools. Starve sin to death in the mind.
The Old Coat and the New
The word picture in Colossians 3:9-10 is of taking off a raggedy old coat and putting on a beautiful new one. We're to take that old self dominated by sin off and set it aside. We're to put on who we are in Christ—the new person we've become through His resurrection.
The old coat included anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, and lying. These characterized our former life. But in Christ, we've put off the old self and put on the new self, "which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator" (Colossians 3:10).
As we kill sin and shift our focus heavenward, something amazing happens: the image of God begins to radiate in us.
Christ Is All
"Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).
Whatever anyone's background—national, cultural, ethnic, societal, economic, or sinful—the death and resurrection of Christ makes saints out of sinners and enables them to live the resurrected life.
This is why the church gathers in the name of Christ. Not in the name of a leader, denomination, or tradition, but Christ alone. Because Christ is in all. Christ is all. Every believer is here because of and only because of Him.
Simplify Your Life in Christ
We live in a dizzying world of busyness. Work is busy. Our children's lives are busy. We fill retirement with endless activities. We even make church incredibly busy. But we need to simplify our lives in Christ. Because if we don't simplify, we won't accidentally find time to be in God's Word, to pray, to reflect on Scripture.
Consider your life. How much time do you spend with the Lord versus how much time you spend with the world? Make a commitment to simplifying your life to incorporate more of Jesus in your daily walk.
The resurrected life can only be lived in the power of the resurrected Christ. And He provides everything we need to live the life He has given us.
What are you pursuing today?
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