Having extolled the Gospel and provided some necessary warnings to the Colossian believers in chapters 1-2, Paul now is ready to instruct this local church on the Christ-like behavior that ought to characterize their ordinary Christian living in chapters 3-4. Doctrine must always lead to stirred affections and holy obedience. In these opening verses, the call is to look up to the things above – Seek them and Set your minds on them. You died to the earthly, ‘below things’ and you belong to the ‘above things.’