From the Home Place

October 18, 2025

We have been blessed with some good Fall moisture, but then that almost always means wind on the tail-end of a front. Here, it is 3:30 a.m. and the wind is howling outside. It sure doesn’t make me excited about working outside again today, but outside is where of the work is right now.

Allow me to wrap up the bull riding illustrations today. I mean, a feller can only take so much bull before having to move on to the next topic. As we also conclude our study of Colossians 3:1-4, I would like us to focus upon one small phrase that is really easy to skip over when reading. We find this little phrase hiding within verse 1, where we are instructed to “keep seeking.”

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking things above.” In the Greek language, “keep seeking” is verb, thus requiring action on our part. This word is also in the “imperative” case, meaning that it is a command, not just a suggestion.

So, let’s return to the arena and take a bit deeper look at bull riding. If a person is going to be a good bull rider, you have to train, train, train, and then train some more. A good bull rider has trained himself physically and emotionally to handle the demands of the event. The coveted ride may be only eight-seconds in length, but it takes hours and hours of training to be ready for those eight-seconds.

The Christian walk is much the same. Here in Colossians 3:1 we are told to “keep seeking.” The word “seeking implies a “deep desire” to fulfill the command. If a feller is going to be a good bull rider, he has to have a driving desire to succeed. If a Christian is going to live a life pleasing to God, that same driving desire is necessary. Neither bull riding, nor Christianity is meant to be a casual sport.

As I said, the phrase “Keep seeking” is an imperative in the Greek. God is commanding us to develop a strong desire for the “things above.” Once again words are important. Note the word “things.” It is plural in nature, meaning that there is a plurality of steps in learning to have a strong desire for the “things above.”

All of the good bull riders I have ever known, started as a kid, riding calves. Then when the want-to-be bull rider grows in size and desire, he will usually graduate up to riding cows and roping steers. After countless bumps, bruises and often broken bones, if the “desire” remains, our student will graduate to bulls.

If he has any brains, he will not start attempting to ride PBR class bulls, but instead he will begin to ride what we call range bulls. Just plain old everyday bulls out of the pasture. No fancy buckers, but they will introduce our young rider to the extreme power of a bull.

Now, let’s shift back to our young Christian. It usually takes time and training to become a strong Christian. Most Christ-followers will walk aways down the road with Jesus before they really experience the power of being “in Christ.” And once a person learns to walk with Jesus in humble dependance, then they have to “keep seeking” a deeper, more intimate walk with Him. It’s something we have to work at; it doesn’t just magically happen to us.

Remember the words of Philippians 2:12, “then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Yep, the Apostle Paul used the word “work,” implying the constant training to be successful at whatever God is calling you to do.

So, if you want to be a mature follower of Christ, then you had best “keep seeking the things above,” and working hard at it. (Remember, Ephesians 2:9-10 makes it clear that we are saved for works, not by works.) For you see my friends, up to the day we enter into heaven, there will always be something else to learn and experience in our walk with Christ!

“Seeking things above” with you, Neal