If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 NKJV 

There is a mean prank golfers will play on their opponents when they are encountering water on the course. They will warn them about the water. “Don’t go in the water.” Don’t let that water bother you.” They will even keep repeating, “Don’t think about the water.”

Photo by Johnny Such on Unsplash

Sounds like genuine concern, but in reality, by repeatedly mentioning the water, they are hoping the water will be fixed in their opponent’s mind, thus making them hit into the water. 

Satan does the same thing with us. “You really messed up yesterday when you smoked that cigarette. Don’t smoke that cigarette today. How long has it been now since your last cigarette?” And just like a golfer hitting into the water because he had water on his mind, so the smoker falls back into smoking because she has smoking on her mind. 

While a golfer needs to be aware of his surroundings, he needs to have his eyes and mind focused on the green. Sure, I may be focused on the green and still accidentally hit into the water. That is where forgiveness comes in. 

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 NLT

However, I have never ever hit the green while looking at and thinking about the water in the way. I only hit the green when I am thinking about the green. So, may I suggest instead of thinking about what you are not going to do, think about what you are going to do. Instead of dwelling on not doing unhealthy things, think and plan to do healthy things. Today, I am going to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I am going to drink plenty of water. Instead of constantly thinking about avoiding inappropriate forms of entertainment you are trying to avoid, think about all the good things you plan to do, like studying your Bible, reading your Sabbath School lesson, and writing that thank-you letter to your friend.

The goal is not to dwell on our past failures and sins, but to dwell on Jesus. This is why Paul tells us, 

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT

This is also why it is good to cultivate the habit of speaking well of others and seeing the good in them, rather than faultfinding. 

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Romans 2:1 NLT

Years ago, a married couple joined my church during a Revelation Seminar. They brought their neighbor, who also joined the church. The married couple told me that their neighbor was phony and would probably leave the church in just a few months. Well, just a few months later the married couple were gone. Years later, the neighbor is still in the church and is even an elder now. I came to realize that when people are talking negatively about others, they are often talking about themselves. We emulate what we look for in others, whether it be good or bad.

Instead of looking at the water traps on the golf course, let’s keep our eyes on the green. Instead of constantly dwelling on our sins and the sins of others, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and His Righteousness.  

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/keeping-our-eyes-on-jesus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=keeping-our-eyes-on-jesus

The great lesson we learn from dear Paul this quarter is that we are to 
Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus! – Hymn 618. This is a beautiful theme hymn to give us a great reminder of what we need in our world that is falling apart these days.

We find that 
Christ Upon The Mountain – Hymn 147 gives a different aspect to what the man-made mountains are in Sunday’s lesson. Further study on Sunday, the author gives us a wonderful hymn 
Because He Lives – Hymn 526 and this can be added to with 
He Lives – Hymn 251.

Our dear Sister Elllen White encourages more of singing with “a new song” (Friday): 
O Sing a New Song To The Lord – Hymn 19 so that each day we must renew consecration to do battle with evil, and “be ever on guard, striving in Christ’s strength for victory”: 
Faith Is The Victory – Hymn 608. 

Please continue to search the scriptures this week to be blessed, and to bless others.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/10-living-with-christ-singing-with-inspiration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-living-with-christ-singing-with-inspiration

Daily Lesson for Monday 9th of March 2026

We hear many slogans today: “End war!” “End deforestation!” “End nuclear weapons!” But one we have probably never heard is “End earthliness!” That just doesn’t fit with the sensibilities of our world. Not that any of the other slogans are wrong or what they advocate is wrong. They’re just very shortsighted, considering the nearness of eternity. Our focus needs to be higher, eternally higher.

Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com

Even though spiritually we have died with Christ, our “members”—that is, the temptations that our body and mind present us—need to be put to death.

But we should realize two things in connection with this command.

First, in Colossians 3:1, the Greek form that Paul uses assumes that we have, in fact, been raised with Christ. Second, the command in Colossians 3:5 is a consequence of that fact (“Therefore”). We can put to death earthly things (fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, etc.) only because we have been raised with Christ and have His spiritual life and power to put these things out of our minds and lives.

Interestingly, the only other occurrence in Greek of the exact phrase that appears in Colossians 3:6, “the wrath of God,” is in Romans 1:18. God “gives” people up to their own wicked ways, and so His wrath is also “coming” (see Revelation 6:16-17) “on those who are disobedient” (Colossians 3:6, NRSV). In Romans 1:18, Paul refers to “ungodliness and unrighteousness,” equating “uncleanness” (using the same Greek word found in Colossians 3:5) very specifically with people who indulge “the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies” (Romans 1:24, NKJV).

How do they dishonor their bodies? First, because they refuse to recognize the Creator but also by “vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful” (Romans 1:26-27, NKJV).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-end-earthliness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-end-earthliness

Key Thought: Paul’s mission involved the use of time and resources to reach major centres in Rome, write letters teaching people, establish churches, and train and ordain workers for Christ.
March 14, 2026

1. Have a volunteer read Colossians 4:10,11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. Besides emissaries bringing news back and forth, what other ways did Paul encourage connectivity?
3. Personal Application: How can you work to lessen the things that cause disunity? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What are some tensions in the local level churches? What can be done about these tensions?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Colossians 4:12,13.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What purpose is described, and how is it to be accomplished?
3. Personal Application: “What does it mean to stand and be perfect and complete? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What are ways that we as individuals and as a church are influenced by the world around us? How can we be protected from the influences of the world?” How would you respond to your relative?

3. Have a volunteer read Colossians 4:14,15; 2 Timothy 4:10,11.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How is Luke described differently than Demas and why?
3. Personal Application: What specific things might Jesus be asking you to repent of in your life? What help are you in need of most to gain the victory? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “What does it mean to watch and be ready for Jesus to return? How about our daily activities, work, recreation, eating, sleeping? Are we just to be aware of current events? Look for Jesus’ signs to be fulfilled? Keep an eye out for antichrist and the mark of the beast? Study the Bible daily and live accordingly?” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Colossians 2:1-3; Colossians 4:16-18.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What connections do you find between Colossians and Jesus’ message to Laodicea in Revelation?
3. Personal Application: What choices can you make (or do) to stay faithful to God and the truth that He has given us? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared. ”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/10-living-with-christ-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-living-with-christ-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 8th of March 2026

From a mountaintop, it is possible to survey a vast landscape that is all around you. From time immemorial, mountains have been frequented by those seeking a closer experience with God (see Psalms 121:1-2). Even human-made mountains, called ziggurats, have been constructed by pagans for a similar purpose—to meet with the gods. Interestingly, the city of Ur, which Abram was called to leave, had a very large ziggurat visible from miles around. But changing one’s elevation will never by itself draw anyone closer to heaven in a spiritual sense. Human effort never could.

Image © John Baker at Goodsalt.com

Instead, only through a miracle of grace, whereby we died with Christ and were raised with Him (figuratively pictured by baptism [Colossians 2:12-13]), is it possible to draw nearer to heaven.

Notice that from the beginning of Colossians 3:1-25, the repeated emphasis on what is above, that is, what there is in heaven: “those things which are above,” “where Christ is,” “things above,” “with Christ in God,” “with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4, NKJV).

Admittedly, there is much in the Christian life that defies explanation. How can a person really “die” and “be raised” when, to all ap­pearances, he or she is the same person and has had no such life-and-death experience? There is much that does not make sense to the natural mind, uninfluenced by the Holy Spirit. But to those who are spiritually-minded, because they have received the new heart promised by God, death to sin and being raised with Christ are genuine realities. As the hymn affirms: “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”

Nevertheless, Paul gives these commands because there is a constant need for this spiritual life to be renewed (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). We can, indeed, fall away and be lost! And we are never safe from temptation in this life.

We must, therefore, choose daily to “seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). Our eternal life is safely “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, NKJV), but the outward expression of that life will be anything but hidden.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26a-11-heavenly-mindedness/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26a-11-heavenly-mindedness