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

Biblical Context

Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians while he was in prison, likely in Rome, around A.D. 60–62. He was writing to believers in Ephesus, a significant city known for its diverse religious practices and the grand temple of Artemis. Paul wanted these new believers to grasp the amazing truth of their identity in Christ and the incredible blessings they now had through God’s grace. Ephesians 2:6 comes right after he talks about God’s kindness and great love, showing us that our new life isn’t something we earn, but a gift given when we put our trust in Jesus.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “raised” in Ephesians 2:6. The Greek word here is synegeirō, which means “to raise together with” or “to cause to rise with.” It’s a compound word, emphasizing the idea of being made alive *alongside* someone else. The important thing here is the past tense: it’s not something that *will* happen, but something God *already did*. Because Jesus was raised, we were raised with Him. It’s a spiritual fact, a present reality for everyone who believes.

Living in Two Worlds

Jesus living gives you hope that goes way past this life. So, we really need to focus our eyes on things that go beyond this world.

A Christian is someone who lives in two different ways. The apostle Paul laid it out this way:

“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).

On one side, you live in a spiritual way, where you walk in the Spirit and you know God in the Spirit. On the other side, as a person, you also live and move around in a physical body right here on earth. Your challenge as a Christian, then, is to bring what you have in the spiritual place into the daily ups and downs of life on earth.

My “Two Passports” Experience

When I go to another country and cross its borders, I still keep my US citizenship. Years ago, when I went to Israel, even though my passport said I was an American, I still had to live within their culture. Because of that, there were a few things I needed to get used to. When I needed money, for example, I took cash from my bank in the US and changed it into shekels to use in Israel. Of course, I didn’t know what the exchange rate was, so on my first day there, I might’ve tipped someone fifty dollars just to carry my bags to my room. (He was really nice to me for the rest of the day, I’ll tell you that!)

Heavenly Riches for Today

As Christians, we have riches, treasures, real assets waiting for us in Heaven. But when the Bible talks about heavenly things, we need to understand that it’s not *only* talking about something waiting for us in Heaven after we die. It’s also talking about the supernatural side of things, a place you can connect with now. So, we need to learn about the supernatural help God has given to us. These are treasures God wants us to get to now, not just in the future. They are things available to any believer who is walking with God.

Setting Your Sights

We need to put God’s things first as we grab onto the hope that we have. We need to look past the daily grind and tough parts of this world to the amazing future that’s waiting for us. What would setting your sights on the realities of Heaven look like in your life? Take a moment to think about that.