# 52 2018. Dev. Col.2:16. Man’s Regulations! Read verses 16-23. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Colossians 2: 16 “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”
This time of the year is a time to celebrate; we celebrate The birth of the Christ Child and anticipate His coming for the second time, we are thankful for the year now past and we anticipate the blessings of the year ahead. This is a time to celebrate and we often over indulge with food, drink and gifts. Moderation in all things is always a good thing but that is not what this passage is about.
Paul points back to what he wrote before: We are set free from our “indebtedness.” Our sins “nailed to the cross” and freed from the “powers” and the “authorities” of this world. The issue here is perceived obligations that have nothing to do with salvation and that our own efforts are useless, salvation is only by the Grace of God. I remember when people started to skip the evening service, even church leaders were starting to be absent, yet the pastor had to be there. When we moved to a church plant we decided to have only a late morning service spending much time before and after the service in fellowship. That gave all of us a new sense of freedom. The bottom line is our personal relationship with Jesus, He is the head of the body, the church held together, “as God causes it to grow.”
“Since you died with Christ, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch’? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.” There are churches that expect attendance twice always, sing only certain traditional songs, have organ music of course, no Christmas tree anywhere near the church and offer communion only to the righteous. All that flies in the face of the freedom Jesus offers us. Praise God for your religious freedom, not only politically but also spiritually which is rooted in our personally relationship to Christ! Thank you Lord Jesus for coming to set us free, we praise You!
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