Read Colossians 2:16-17
It’s About Jesus
16 Therefore do not
let 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.
WHEN you read the title of this devotion, “It’s About Jesus”
I hope you said to yourself, “I know that.” Sadly, though, Jesus has gotten
lost amid preferences, traditions, and mankind’s consuming passion in the
church to say, “We need something else.” Here’s a quote from the Teacher’s Commentary © 1997 on this
scripture:
“Many in the
ancient world struggled against the idea of ‘new’. They were attracted to the
church but tried to adjust Christ to fit their old categories. They tried to
define Christianity in terms of their human philosophies rather than letting
Christ define them as a new humanity.
“We have the same
problem. God designed the church to be a living organism. Yet today we still
persist in diagramming its structure as a business rather than a body. The
leadership is called to equip members of the body. Yet all too many Christians
view the pastoral staff as ones hired to do the teaching and evangelism that is
the body’s ministry.”
In the new church,
false teachers tried to legalize the church. We still work hard to legalize
worship, God’s Word, God’s grace and Jesus. We judge others who do not fit our
view. We look for ways to criticize and separate instead of joining as one in
Jesus.
Paul adamantly tells the Colossians, “It’s
about Jesus.” Paul reminds them that the Old Testament laws, holidays, and
festivals pointed toward Christ. But they were “shadows” of Jesus, who came to bring
his light to the shadows. If we have Christ, we have what we need to know and
please God.
A Moment’s Thought: What’s between you and Jesus?
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