SCRIPTURE: Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:20-23 NIV
QUOTE: “Pure, holy simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of the flesh.” St. Francis of Assisi
THOUGHT: What an intriguing three verses of Scripture. Do I completely understand all of Paul’s words here? Maybe not completely. It seems one of those places I am destined to dwell, coming back to it, again and again, reading various translations and commentaries before it all comes into focus. In a nutshell, however, it’s about man-made rules and their inability to make us behave. All the rules can look like wisdom, but be devoid of anything that brings us closer to the source, God, where true change may be found. As St. Francis suggested, they can complicate pure, holy simplicity.
These Paul calls “the elemental spiritual forces of this world,” and every kind of legalism likely falls into this category. We have died to that kind of empty religious life with Christ, having traded it for higher freedom and allegiance.
The phrase that jumps out at me most is “self-imposed worship.” Following a set of empty rules that constitute “worship” is such a hollow imitation of the real thing. If you’ve ever experienced it, you know just what I mean. Relationship with God isn’t to be found in ritual. Do I mean to say that you cannot draw close to God through something you do over and over? No. I only mean that if your rituals – however wise they may look to others – don’t flow out of real relationship, they’re in vain. You’ll go away the same man or woman you were before the self-imposed worship began. Only worshiping in spirit and truth can nourish real relationship with God, where wisdom and freedom begin.
PRAYER: Oh God, give us a taste of the wisdom and freedom Paul is preaching.
Dear Reader,
I’m glad you’re along and I pray you will be blessed, challenged, and encouraged in your faith by something you read here.
There are archives by topic below – now more than 1000 of these daily meditations to browse.
ABOUT ME:
Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
FREE TO YOU:
If you’d like to be notified of this blog each weekday, please look for the little blue “follow” button below (just above the topical search), and welcome!
asipoblog.com 