What does it mean to be “heavenly minded”? The negative stereotype is of a person whose head is in the clouds. Their hope is so fixed on the world to come that they are useless in this present world. I would say that today, we move too far in the opposite direction. We lean away from heaven and concentrate on the world. We are activists who would rather work than wait.

Heavenly-mindedness is, first of all, a way of thinking about ourselves in terms of our relation to Christ and the world. It assumes that a fundamental change in our spiritual condition has occurred. Our inclusion in the resurrection of Christ means that we have moved from death to life. We have been “raised with Christ” (v. 1). Paul is not talking about the believer’s bodily resurrection, which is still in the future but about our inclusion in the resurrection of Christ. When the apostle urges believers to set their minds on things above, he is not telling them to fantasize about heavenly life by dwelling on streets of gold and a “mansion just over the hilltop.” He is describing a mindfulness that begins with understanding Christ’s victorious position and its power to transform us (vv. 7–10).

To be heavenly minded is to live in a way that demonstrates the earthly effects of heavenly reality. But Paul’s assertion is more than a general exhortation to “be good.” It is a call to engage in an ongoing struggle with sin on this side of eternity. The sinful actions Paul lists have no place in the heavenly sphere. But willpower and discipline alone are not enough to defeat them. The cross is their only remedy because it has been made effective by the vindication of Christ’s resurrection and ascension.

Eggs can be delicious on their own, but they are also used as an important binding ingredient in recipes. Eggs act as an emulsifier, bringing together two “difficult to mix” ingredients. For example, eggs are combined with oil and water to create mayonnaise.

Sometimes people can be “difficult to mix.” No matter how spiritually mature we might be, we find ourselves in conflict with friends, family members, and even fellow believers. When conflicts go unresolved, they create a hostile environment. In Colossians 1, Paul describes the hostility that previously existed between us and God. He says in verse 21, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” Paul explains that at one time we were spiritually estranged from God and lived opposed to Him in thought and deed. The question is how did God reconcile us to Himself?

In verse 22, Paul explains, “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Christ, as our reconciler, was able to bring people, once hostile toward one another, together as one. God initiated this reconciliation, and it happened at a cost. Jesus paid the price of death. Because of His death and resurrection, we can be free of accusation, and reconciliation with God was made possible (Rom. 3:21–26). True reconciliation cannot happen unless there is a removal of the charge.

As followers of Jesus and beneficiaries of His sacrificial act of reconciliation and love, we must extend this love and forgiveness to others. According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

As a believer, you are in a spiritual battle, and your enemy is in stealth mode! Someone operating in stealth mode acts in a disguised or secretive way. They might appear innocent on the outside, but beneath the surface, they are deceptive and dangerous. That is why the Apostle Paul warns believers to be aware and alert!

Our enemy, the devil, is invisible and full of schemes. While we cannot fight him in the physical sense, we do battle with him daily in the heavenly realm. The heavenly realm is where spiritual activity occurs, and the spiritual impacts the physical. The good news is that God gave us weapons to battle against the “powers of this dark world” (v. 12). Even better, through Him, we have victory!

Paul teaches us how to fight from this position of victory. While under house arrest for proclaiming the gospel, Paul was obviously in close proximity to Roman soldiers who were assigned to watch him around the clock. Perhaps these circumstances were on his mind as he commanded believers to “be strong in the Lord” (v. 10). We find strength in God’s mighty power as we “put on the full armor of God” (v. 11).

In verses 14–17, Paul names this spiritual armor piece by piece (see also 2 Cor. 10:4–5). We put on “the belt of truth” and the body armor of God’s righteousness (v. 14). He continues with the sandals of good news, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (vv. 15–17). Paul tells us to stand firm three times (vv. 11, 13–14). Finally, he exhorts us to pray always in the Spirit for ourselves (v. 18) and for others. These tools will help us resist the tactics of an invisible enemy as we walk by faith and not by sight.

Did you know that the Holy Spirit plays an intricate part not only in our salvation but also in our walk with the Lord? Paul mentions the Holy Spirit in all six chapters of his letter to the Ephesians. We are sealed by the Spirit unto the day of redemption (1:13). We have access to the Father by the Spirit (2:18). The Spirit reveals to us the mystery of the gospel (3:5). We have been unified by the Spirit (4:3). We can be filled by the Spirit (5:18), and we can pray in the Spirit (6:18). These are just some of the verses in this epistle that speak of the Holy Spirit.

There is no way we can walk with the Lord without the Holy Spirit working in our lives. That is why Paul challenged the Ephesians to be “filled with the Spirit” (5:18). The Greek word for filled speaks of an ongoing filling and not a once-and-for-all experience.

When we walk with the Lord, the Holy Spirit is continually working in our lives. In the same way, as we continually submit ourselves to the Spirit, He empowers us to do His will. The Holy Spirit is so involved in our walk with the Lord that when we are not being filled by Him, we are grieving Him. Paul cautions: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (4:30).

When we walk (or live) by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). In verses 19 and 20, Paul describes the outpouring of this “filling”—we will worship and sing, “giving thanks to God the Father for everything.” As Spirit-filled people, we will live in a way that glorifies God, in worship and fellowship with like- minded people.

Do you remember the excitement of getting new school clothes for a new academic year? I will never forget shopping for new clothes and school supplies. Putting on those new clothes for the first time was a very proud moment. I had grown out of the old clothes; I was ready for something new!

In Ephesians 4:24, the Apostle Paul says we are to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Obviously, Paul is not speaking of literal clothing. He is referring to the new lifestyle of the believer. The word created is also mentioned in Ephesians 2:10. We are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” When we are saved, we become a new creation. Through salvation, God has given us new life (Eph. 2:5). That means we now “put on” a new way of living that reflects His character.

Paul challenges believers to cease doing things that do not honor God and do not reflect who they are created to be in Him. This includes what we do and how we speak. We are to avoid lying (v. 25) and “unwholesome talk” (v. 29). We are to control our anger: “In your anger do not sin” (v. 26). We are to put off unwholesome past behaviors (v. 31) and put on new ones: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (v. 32).

The use of clothing to describe our transformation is an excellent comparison because clothing is usually an outward reflection of who we are and what we do. In the same way, our lifestyle as believers in Christ is a reflection who we are because of what Christ did for us. We ought to be excited to be able to experience a new way of living because of our new life in Christ.