friday…the substance belongs to Christ
Written by Greg Warmerdam on June 6, 2008 – 3:20 pm -Paul sure is direct. He makes things clear about Christ, and about our decision making, as he goes on in Colossians.
Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day– {17} things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. {18} Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, {19} and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. (Col 2:16-19 NASB)
No one is to act as your judge. A lot of people want to. Often we want them to. They seem so much more with it than us, successful, smart. But God says let no one act as your judge! Not in the church, not out of the church. There is a kind of independence thing that must be ours in Christ. Religious people make rules for themselves, and others, and want you to live by them. But your substance is not there, it is in Christ! Can Christ not lead you in everything?
The freedom we have can be difficult to live out. But once we yield up that freedom, to either sin or religious people, we’ve lost the power of who we are in Christ, and who He would have us become over time. Enjoy the blessings and pleasures that Christ gives. Serve and make the sacrifices he directs. Just don’t let others shut off your enjoyment, or mandate suffering and sacrifice.
We have a great prize in Christ. Give it away to no one. Don’t let yourself be defrauded of it by those who would entice you or condemn you.
Hold fast to the head!
Tags: confidence, encouragement, freedom, wisdom
Posted in Colossians |