✝ Daily Encouragement (11/17/23) "Breathing The Air Of Heaven"

Published: Fri, 11/17/23

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Friday, November 17, 2023

"Breathing The Air Of Heaven"

Message summary: Today we consider being climatized to heaven. As our Scripture verse states it, setting our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things.

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"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4).

For the last several years we have enjoyed a song titled "Hymn of Heaven" which is an expression of aspiration. It is fitting for worshiping the Lord but especially timely at the death of a believer.

Brooksyne got word as she awakened this morning that her Aunt Iva Baslee, 87 years of age, went to be with Jesus in the early morning hours today. She and her sister, Elaine, had just visited with Iva in Springfield, MO in October. So that is on our hearts this morning as we share our message.

"Hymn of Heaven" begins with these words:

How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity

Today let us focus on the part of our daily Scripture text that states, "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" .

Over 15 years ago we heard a prayer by a pastor using a phrase that especially caught our attention. He prayed on behalf of himself and the congregation that God would "climatize us to the climate of heaven". To climatize means to acclimate or become acclimated. Practically speaking, it means to become adjusted or to get used to. Although yesterday was quite warm where we live the cooler weather is coming. When being outside we need to climatize!

One of the great ongoing issues believers deal with in one way or another is getting too used to the climate of earth, earthly things. We need to very purposefully seek to have a heavenly perspective in the midst of the noise of life. Essentially our minds are naturally acclimated to the climate of this physical life, or as the text states, "on earthly things".

But today's Scripture portion is a strong call to what we'll refer to as "heavenly climatization". Spiritually we who have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior have been "raised with Christ". This speaks of our present position. I take it to mean that we are to live with an ongoing awareness of the reality and power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Since we have been raised with Christ we are to set our hearts and minds on things above. This is an act of the will and must be an ongoing attitude in the life of the believer. The experiences of yesterday, however wonderful, need to be regularly refreshed.

We must seek to live with a heavenly perspective as we daily sort through any setbacks or losses that line our earthly path. Many years ago we both committed the daily Scripture portion to memory. Today we want to keep this heavenly perspective and we do so by personalizing today's verse: "Since, then, I have been raised with Christ, I set my heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. I set my mind on things above, not on earthly things. For I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God." Won't you join us today?

The "Hymn of Heaven" ends with this declaration:

So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar
Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave
Holy, holy is the Lord

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, since we have set our heart on things above, not on earthly things, we die to self and live unto Christ. As our lives are hidden with Christ in God we pray that the mind of Christ will live in us and refresh our spirit from day to day. By His love and power may He guide us in all we do and say, so that we may decrease as He increases in our thoughts, actions, and words. We want this mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Hymn Of Heaven" Watch on YouTube Phil Wickham

"Christ Is Mine Forevermore" Watch on YouTube CityAlight

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

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