January 13, 2023

Colossians 2: 20-23 (HCSB)
20 If you died with the Messiah to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”? 22 All these regulations refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are commands and doctrines of men. 23 Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.

Mark Jenkins
Again, I go back to my first statement this week, the answer to all questions is Jesus. If we have accepted His gift of salvation, why are we still living as if we belong to the world? We were bought and paid for through the blood of Jesus Christ and all the regulations of man, do not mean anything to achieving eternal life...that has been settled! In these last verses of Colossians 2, we see Paul dispelling purity and dietary laws imposed by false teachers and being used to judge and disqualify believers. These regulations did not help in the end goal of growing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which should be our goal. In the end, there is a hole in every lost person’s heart and they are trying to fill it with something...that something should be Jesus. Pray that we will strengthen our resolve and seek out a real and personal relationship with Jesus