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. -Colossians 3:1-2

With a big anniversary just a few weeks away, you can be sure I’m on the hunt for the perfect gift. Yes—of course—for my husband. But honestly, what kind of wife would I be if I didn’t also curate a few sparkly suggestions for myself along the way? As I was fully immersed in online shopping, my attention was pulled to this passage in Colossians 3, and suddenly my searching took on a different tone.

In Colossians 3, Paul makes a clear turn from rich theology to real-life application. Writing to believers surrounded by religious noise and hollow teaching, Paul lovingly re-centers them on the gospel—simple, sufficient, and complete. God is not impressed by self-made religion or outward performance. What he desires is genuine heart transformation, the kind that flows from trusting fully in what Christ has already accomplished. Faith, not striving, is the foundation.

But faith is never stagnant. Paul reminds us that if we have truly been united with Christ, our lives will begin to reflect that union. Our focus shifts. Our desires change. We “seek the things that are above.” To seek means to desire, to pursue, to set our hearts on something with intention—much like I was doing while hunting for the perfect gift. It’s a deliberate act of the mind and heart. And Paul says this is where believers are meant to aim their attention: not merely at what glitters here and now, but at the lasting glory of heaven.

Because Jesus is the real deal—and because those who trust hm have been raised with him—we are invited into a new way of living. The true gospel doesn’t just promise a future hope; it reshapes our present focus. So today, we lift our eyes. We loosen our grip on earthly things. And we choose, again and again, to set our hearts on Christ—trusting that what is above is far better than anything we could ever add to our cart.