Christ Is All!
Opening Prayer
Jesus, may I hear Your call to pick up my cross and follow You.
Read Colossians 2:16–23
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
20 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: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 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.
New International Version (NIV)
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Reflect
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1906–1945, The Cost of Discipleship).Navigating our way around relationships is rarely straightforward. Working out realities such as forgiveness, reconciliation, conflict, honesty and trust are often fraught with problems. There are times in the office, home or church when we feel we are walking on eggshells. Or to change the metaphor, dealing with inter-relational tensions can sometimes be like an elaborate dance with two people trying to avoid treading on each other’s toes. But Paul suggests there are times when compromise is dangerous. In this passage he issues two commands: “do not let anyone condemn you” and “do not let anyone disqualify” you. He seems to quote some of the expressions he’s heard: “Do not handle. Do not taste! Do not touch!” (21).
These Colossian Christians are being sucked into sensationalism and legalism (18,22), neither of which is any use for godliness (23b). Unless they wake up soon they could be in deep trouble. Paul has heard there are some in this church who are being swayed by different religious ideas and practices, and he’s not impressed. Through faith in Christ they have been forgiven and are now free to live uncluttered lives. Christ is all we need (17,19)!
Apply
Are there some relationships troubling you or creating a bad influence? Do you need to cut off the relationship or take a stand?
Closing prayer
Lord, give me wisdom to know how to move forward in my relationships in a manner that honors You.
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