Affection
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Affection- phroneō
From G5424; to exercise the mind, that is, entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)
I get an ever growing daily deposit of emails in my in box, and way more in my junk box. The reason it’s ever growing is largely due to my own diversions into the crafted enticement on a popup while searching on the internet- “Free X-box”, “Today Only- Get your iPhone by simply filling out this form”, “Become financially independent in two months”, etc. At some point I had to find out what this was really about and, like a lamb to the slaughter obediently filled in my name and email address to the glee of some marketing webmaster who immediately added my name to a sellable database of ’soft’ prospects. I did, at one point create an email account that I could dispose of after it gathered too much steam, but there is still evidence to spare that I am somewhat susceptible to checking out the possibilities behind the doors. Drawn in by what sparked an interest and an apparent need of some kind, for at least a portion of my limited time on this earth, I have given my mind and my focus to the interest of the moment.
It seems that life itself is a journey through this endless display of popups. There is a relationship, a club, a toy, a taste, a buz, a feeling, a thrill, a song, a sound, a book, a movie, a game….. that is always begging for recognition and mental disposal or affection. What will occupy our thought processes and what will gain our interest and concern is given so many options, some of which may be legitimate, but most of which are much like my junk box- just affection bombs. Leading along just enough until a large portion of time or resources have been spent and lost, they blow up with disappointment and open up a vulnerability to even more shots from the list makers.
It’s good to know that there is a ’setting’ that can be adjusted, where the spam filter is turned on and only the things from above are even allowed entrance. Our hearts and mental processes don’t have to be damaged or compromised by some powerless giving in to the affections of this world. We can go into the admin section of our heart and by ’setting’ our minds on the incredible enticement of a heavenly kingdom, we can become invulnerable to any of the earth’s time wasters. By choosing to embrace and entertain ourselves with a hidden life in Christ, we can actually die to the meaningless as we become alive to the incredibly significant.
Jesus has become our life. This is an eternal reality that is the result of our most legitimate submission. There is no need to let an affection be set on anything that might exclude Him. Where He lives they will die, and where they live His life is snuffed. May our affection setting for this day be one that disallows the spam as it loses all other interests for the One who has taken our mind, sentiment, opinion, concern - our affection.
