The Apostle Paul admonishes: “Set your hearts on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2)

What are earthly things? Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, idolatry (Col 3:5). Or anything that would lead us to those things.

Instead, I am to set my heart on things above. And what are they? True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable things. (Phil 4:8)

But sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which. For example, what about “secular” music? or TV shows we enjoy watching? What about art museums with paintings of naked people?

I think we must use wisdom to determine what is good for us and what is not. There are things that are legitimate and good for some people, but are not for others. For example, wine. Some enjoy a glass of wine and it is good for them, but others abuse it and have no control over it and are led to sin. When I watch certain TV dramas, I’m grateful for the beauty that God has built into human relationships. However, there are other dramas and movies I try to avoid because they do not draw me closer to Christ; rather the opposite.

What matters is: whatever I am doing, can it do it to glorify Christ? Does it bring pure and clean joy to my heart? Does it help me focus on Christ and His world more than me and my world?

I work for your joy. Take your eyes off yourself and look to God and His world.

PH