How Was Your Weekend?

It seems that the topic of conversation today is, "How was your weekend?" I've talked to several people and that was one of the first questions asked. Of course there were as many answers as there were people who ask or were asked. To me, weekends are always good! Of course if you work they give you a time of rest or a time to do some of the things you might want to do, but don't have time to do during the work week. More importantly, the weekends recharge us for the rest of the week. Of course for most of you reading this, you will have focused more on the week beginning than the week end. Sunday: the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, a time of worship, meditation, rejoicing, praise and fellowship.

I get excited about the opportunity to be in a worship situation with other Christians. I look forward for a chance to worship God. I enjoy the fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Does that mean I'm always up and excited when I wake up on Sunday morning? Of course not! Sometimes, just like you, I don't sleep well. Some days, I wake up with more aches and pains than others. Sometimes, I think about my schedule and know I have lots I will have to do in the afternoon between services. All of that, however, does not lessen the fact that I get to be in the presence of God in a special way, surrounded by people who struggle just like me to experience that sweet presence of God. However, I have already decided to set my mind on things above, not on things of the earth, and to try my best not to get distracted from my goal.

I love the way Paul's words are translated by a modern translation:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3 NLT)

Did you get that exciting message Paul shares here? We have been changed! We are given a new life with Christ! So, because of that change and fresh start, our thought processes change also. We are now to set our sights on the realties of heaven. I especially love the phrase, "Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth."Ask yourself what fills your thought: are they thoughts of the things of earth or things of heaven? Granted, we cannot forget our obligations that come with just living here on earth. One old preacher said, "Some folks are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good!" He makes a great point, but what Paul had in mind is a focus on heavenly values brought down to bless our earthly realities. So, what is the core, the very center, of your life? What is your motivation for living? Paul is trying to get us to see that heaven must be our center of thought, our motivation for living, and the promise for the future!

I get excited about the "week beginning" on Sunday, because it renews that spark within me that gave me life and gives my life meaning! If you are not experiencing that, maybe it's time for a good hard look at your life and your priorities. You may need to make some changes and perhaps in your relationships. Each of us has to "Let heaven fill [our] thoughts" and make a conscious decision to bring that heavenly grace down to our world, and then act upon that decision. The weekend can be good or it can be GREAT ... it all depends on whether or not you spend time with your focus on the One who matters most! So, how was your weekend?