06/08/2026
To God be the Glory!
Greetings from Hanging Moss Church of Christ
5225 Hanging Moss Rd. Jackson, MS. 39206
Our beloved Minister and Evangelist Dr. Curtis W.
Pittman, who has faithfully guided our congregation for 51+ years. How happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! In this very way the man who fears the Lord will be blessed(Psalms 128:1;4)
It’s a Mind Thing (Set on Jesus) Colossians 3:1-4
The Apostle Paul, writing to the church at Colossae, reminds Christians that because they have been raised with Christ in baptism through faith, they are to live differently from the world around them. As young Christians and seasoned Christians alike, our priorities must be centered on God’s will. Before Paul addresses behavior, he addresses the mind. He reminds them of who they are in Christ and then calls them to seek higher things. His approach is relationship before responsibility, identity before instruction. These believers had been delivered from darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). Therefore, their thinking, priorities, and conduct should reflect the One they now serve.
First, Paul says, “Seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). As young Christians preparing to enter college campuses and workplaces, this command is especially important. The college environment will offer many voices, ideas, temptations, and pressures. Yet Paul reminds us that our first pursuit is not popularity, acceptance, success, or worldly recognition. Our first pursuit is Christ. Jesus taught the same principle when He said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Young Christians must remember that wherever they go, they represent Christ and His church. They are called to be lights in places that often walk in darkness.
Second, Paul says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). This speaks of a determined mind—a mind set on Jesus. Daniel is a perfect example. Though carried away into Babylon and surrounded by influences contrary to God’s will, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). He remembered what he had been taught. Likewise, our young people must enter the classroom, dormitory, and campus with a settled conviction that God’s way is still right. It takes courage to stand when others compromise. It takes courage to speak when others remain silent. It takes courage to live differently. But a mind fixed on Christ will not be easily moved by the pressures of the world.
Third, Paul reminds believers that because they are dead with Christ, sinful things must be put to death. Later he writes, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth” (Colossians 3:5). The Christian life is not merely about avoiding sin; it is about refusing to allow sin to rule. Young adults must understand that every choice either strengthens or weakens their walk with God. The influences they follow, the company they keep, and the values they embrace will shape the person they become. As Psalm 1 teaches, there is blessing in avoiding ungodly counsel and delighting in the law of the Lord.
Paul concludes by reminding Christians that their lives are hidden with Christ in God and that one day they will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3-4). What a powerful encouragement for young believers. The goal is not merely to survive college or fit into society; the goal is to remain faithful to Christ. When they step onto a campus, they should remember whose they are, what they have been taught, and whom they represent. Like Daniel, they must purpose in their hearts. Like the Colossians, they must seek the things above, set their affection on things above, and put to death the things below. It truly is a mind thing—a mind set on Jesus Christ.
To have a life hidden in Christ, one must hear how Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day. We must believe wholeheartedly what we have heard about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We then need to repent of the sin committed against God. We should confess Jesus to be the Son of God, and be willing to continue our obedience unto baptism for the forgiveness of sin and receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. We then rise to walk in the newness of life. And God asks us to be faithful unto death.
