Where Is Your Affection Today?

Col. 3:2 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.


When you dwell or set your mind on things of earth, you lose sight of what God is doing.  This time of year you see a lot of depression, a lot of grief and a lot of self absorption.  The holidays are hard when we have lost those we love.  It's even harder if things were not 100% right with you and them.  Have you ever been there with someone you love?


I have.  It may or may not be your fault.  The fault isn't always a major part of the guilt.  In fact, when you feel that guilt, you are going to assign fault, sometimes to yourself but often to them or others.  If 'this person' had not done 'this thing' then my relationship 'with that person' would have been what it should have been.  Pointing fingers is so easy. And at least for a little while it eases the guilt.


I wish I could for just a moment remove the veil so you can see how totally that is from the father of all lies, satan!  What it really does is create anger (usually on both sides), destroy relationships and avoid finding a resolution.  Now all resolutions aren't 'peaches and cream'.  Sometimes the resolution is accepting that you cannot change the past but you can move forward in the present.  Don't neglect the current for history!  Don't allow bad decisions you have made to push you to more bad decisions today.


When you set your affection on things above, you begin to look at the big picture.  What will this (whatever your circumstance)  matter a week from now, a year from now or in eternity?  If it won't, it is a thing of earth and you don't need to get attached to it.


In today's world we are surrounded by 'things' and we love our things.  We give them names, we hold them close, we pay them more attention than we do our friends and family.  Yet when the time comes to comfort your family in a receiving line, those things will not be there.  When they are looking for someone to speak at your funeral, those things will not say a word.


It is the lives you have touched, the people you have loved that will be there if you have set your affection on things above.  Today as we come into a season that often brings with it tears and regrets, determine that your affection - your contentment, your sights will be set on things above, not things of earth.


The best part of your story/testimony may well not be written yet.  If you let go of things and set your love and attention on things that build God's kingdom, He can do amazing things.  I once heard someone say 'I don't have a compelling testimony, I never did drugs, had an abortion or even sex outside of marriage.  I was raised in church and once I got saved at age 11, I never strayed very far from God.'  Wow!  Now that is a testimony!  Look at the things God kept you from!  Look at the dangers He prevented.


But most of us aren't that fortunate, even if we were raised in church most of us have some things in our life that are hard, ugly and full of sin.  God's bringing you to Him from that is indeed a testimony!  But don't dwell there too long!  Praise God for all He has done but realize that bringing you from that is not the whole story, He has plans for you!  He wants you to serve Him today.