Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me

 Good morning. OK, so how do we keep seeking the things above where Christ is? We have to set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. That's it – no more stinkin' thinkin'. It is a deliberate process; it does not happen naturally. The mind naturally thinks about the things here on earth. And it's not just a once in a while thing; it is constantly setting your mind on the things above. And Paul says it again: for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. And where is Christ? At the right hand of the Father. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. That is something to look forward to. And so since we are dead, buried, raised up, seated with Christ and have set our minds on the things above – then how should we act? We should consider the members of our earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed – which amounts to idolatry. There should be no temptation there because we're dead. That's an interesting thought – greed amounts to idolatry. In the Old Testament when it speaks about idolatry, they were putting something ahead of, in place of God. They created an image of it and bowed down to it. Greed puts something ahead of God also. When you are greedy, you put something ahead of God – it consumes you. And it's not just money; it is what money can do. Not only can you buy what you want when you want, it also gives you power over people. And so like the people worshiped the images because of what the images represented could do for them, people worship money for what the money represents can do for them. Father thank You that the reader sets his/her mind on the things above; he/she also considers himself/herself dead to all those evil things.