Set your mind. Do you have wandering thoughts? We’re told to set our minds. Fix them on Jesus. Fix them on His Word and all His goodness and love.

You shouldn’t have your mind on things of this world. Talking about the latest game or movie or sports event or political move? Your mind is on the wrong thing. Get off the news, the streaming. You have died. Your life is hidden with Christ. This isn’t your life you are living. You have no life outside of Christ. You should have no life outside of Christ.

In fact, we’re told to put to death what is earthly. Don’t covet. Don’t want what’s not yours. You aren’t lacking anything; you have Jesus. Don’t offend God by acting like He’s not given you everything, that He’s done you wrong in some way.

Put to death all anger. Don’t let bad words come out of your mouth or bad talk about someone else. Don’t lie or do wrong to anyone.

We put off those things and put on Christ because we’re God’s chosen ones. We are holy and beloved in the Son. We’re to have compassionate and kind hearts and bear with each other in all humility, meekness, and patience. And we always forgive because Jesus always forgives us.

We stay bonded together in perfect harmony by living out the peace and love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

We need to realize we are one body. It’s not okay for part of the Body to be hurt. We care for one another. If part is sick and dying, we rally around. We let the Word dwell in us richly so we can wisely teach and admonish one another. How? Singing with thankfulness!

It sounds like all teaching and rebuking is to be done in song, but that’s not what we see Paul doing, so I don’t think that’s what it is saying! I do think we should be careful to sing songs that teach and build up, and not go after songs that “feel” good for our enjoyment.

But whatever you do, whether you’re doing or saying or singing, do it as an honoring representative of Jesus Christ, always giving thanks. You no longer live. It’s His life.