December 18th
Twentieth Day of Advent
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? Why do you submit to regulations? “Do not handle. Do not taste. Do not touch”? All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.
Colossians 2:20-23
A few days ago, our sprinklers malfunctioned. Instead of cycling through one time, they cycled through multiple times, leaving a huge mud pit in my backyard. I came home to a hilarious sight…a soaking wet, filthy Basset Hound…. she had herself a little party in the backyard. After cleaning her up, I closed her dog door to avoid more muddy mess. But she was not happy. She wanted out. I took her in the front yard on a leash. I took her on a walk. No…she wanted her dog door opened. She paced. She whined. She would not rest. Until…the backyard dried up and I opened her dog door. Then she did not go outside, she laid down and slept.
I had created a new rule, a regulation that stopped the Basset Hound from her fun. This rule functioned successfully as a way of keeping her and the house clean. But her heart did not change. The rule did not check her self-indulgence, her desire to have a party in the mud.
Isn’t that true with us as well? We often respond negatively to rules, either living restlessly or legalistically. Rules and laws have their place, but rules and laws do not change the heart. Paul says it like this…
These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence.
Instead of following a list of “do and don’ts,” Jesus invites us to follow Him, to live in relationship with Him. Relationship with Jesus changes hearts.
Why were the Colossians submitting to the Jewish law and regulations? Like so many of us, they wanted a clean reputation, they wanted to look good. For us, sometimes doing the right thing… reading the Bible, prayer, church attendance, following the rules…. becomes a burden, a law. It becomes about our efforts instead of about relationship with Jesus. If this happens, take a breath. Let go. Just enjoy Him. Enjoy the anticipation of His birth…
During this season of Advent, Jesus invites us into spiritual practices so we can hear His voice, so that He can change our hearts… and as Jesus changes our hearts, He empowers us to follow Him and obey Him in response to His love, not for the sake of following rules.
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