“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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