Setting Your Sights – Greg Laurie Devotion – April 11, 2026

Biblical Context

The letter to the Ephesians comes from the apostle Paul. He wrote it to the Christians living in Ephesus, a city known for its large temple to the goddess Artemis and its busy port. Paul wanted these believers to grasp the amazing truth of what God did for them through Jesus. He wanted them to see their new place and purpose in God’s plan, reminding them of who they are now because of Christ’s work on the cross and resurrection. Paul’s goal was to help them understand their identity and live out their faith in a city full of other gods and ways of life.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word ‘seated’ from our main verse, Ephesians 2:6. In Greek, it’s `συγκαθίζω` (pronounced syn-kath-ee-zoh). It means to sit down together with someone, or even to enthrone someone with you. It’s not just about finding a comfortable chair; it’s about sharing a position of honor, authority, and rest. Think about it: God sees us sharing a spot with Christ, right now, in a powerful, spiritual way. It means you’ve got a place, a secure spot, with Him, sharing in His victory and rest.

Living in Two Dimensions

You know, because Jesus is alive, everyone who puts their trust in Him has a hope that goes past this life here on earth. So, it’s really important that we look toward things that are bigger than just this world. A Christian, you could say, lives in two dimensions at the same time. The apostle Paul laid this out clearly when he wrote:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory” (Colossians 3:1–4 nlt).

Isn’t that something? It means on one side, you and I, as believers, live in a spiritual space. It’s where we walk by the Spirit and get to know God in a spiritual way. But then, as real people, we also live and move in our physical bodies right here on earth. So, our big job as Christians is to figure out how to take what we have in that spiritual place and bring it into our everyday lives, into all the ups and downs of life on earth.

Citizenship and Culture

Let me tell you about a trip. When I travel to another country and pass through its borders, I still maintain my US citizenship. When I went to Israel several years ago, although my passport identified me as an American, I still had to live within their culture. As a result, there were a few things I needed to adapt to. When I needed currency, for example, I took funds from my bank in the US and converted them into shekels to use in Israel. Of course, I didn’t know what the exchange rate was, so on my first day there, I may have tipped someone fifty dollars to carry my bags to my room. (He was really nice to me the rest of the day.)

This story helps us see something important about our spiritual walk. As Christians, you’ve got riches, treasures, and real assets just waiting for you in Heaven. But when the Bible talks about the ‘heavenlies,’ we need to see it’s not just about what’s waiting for us after we die. It’s also talking about a spiritual place that’s beyond our natural world, a supernatural reality that is active right now. So, we’ve got to learn about the amazing helps God has given us that work outside of what we can normally see.

Accessing Heavenly Assets Now

These are valuable things God wants us to get our hands on right now, not just later. They’re supplies ready for any believer who’s living close to God. Just like I had to convert my US funds to shekels to use them in Israel, we need to learn how to ‘convert’ our spiritual blessings into practical help for our daily lives here on earth. It’s about bringing Heaven’s way of doing things into our current situation.

When you’re facing a tough situation, you don’t have to wait until you get to Heaven to experience God’s comfort, peace, or wisdom. These are spiritual assets, available to you now. You can tap into them, bring them into your current circumstances, and see God work.

Prioritizing God’s Things

We need to put God’s things first as we grab hold of the hope we’ve got. We’ve got to look past the everyday struggles and problems of this world to the amazing future that’s waiting for us. This doesn’t mean ignoring what’s happening around us; it means facing it with a different perspective, knowing that you’re a citizen of Heaven even while you’re here. You’re connected to something much bigger, and that connection gives you strength, peace, and hope for every single day.

So, what would setting your sights on the realities of Heaven look like in your life? It might mean choosing peace over worry, giving grace instead of holding a grudge, or seeking God’s direction before making a big decision. It means remembering that your true home and your true identity are in Christ, and letting that truth guide every choice you make.