Thursday, August 24, 2017

Paul’s Letters to Seven Churches: Colossae


These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” Colossians 2:22-23 NKJV
Sunday after Sunday an elderly man in my church lamented that if the stores were just closed on Sunday more people would be in church. “Pass a law like in the old days,” he said. “Then we won’t have such small attendance.” Paul said that’s not true. I told the gentleman that, but he didn’t care. Rules will make people live right was his motto. The scriptures tell us clearly that the elderly gentleman was wrong.
The Church at Colossae was beset by people just like my elderly gentleman. They tried to convince the people of that church that they could be “better” Christians if they just had a few more rules to follow. The Jews had all kinds of rules and they consistently broke them. Rules did not make them live more righteously. Only Christ in the heart can do that. Rules can only make us arrogant against those who don’t likewise comply. Paul told the people of Colossae, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” Rules didn’t make us “good enough” for Christ and they are not going to make us “good enough” in Christ. We came to Christ because He loved us and drew us to Him. We need to walk like Christ in such a way that will draw others to Him. Christ will generate the good works we should do. No man can add to His list.
Dear Father, Help me to walk close beside Christ each day. Amen.


You can find the Abundant Grace daily devotion M-F at www.davidccraig.net. You will also find a number of excellent Christian books there as well. 

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