Colossians 2
Have you ever gone to a Christian book
store? I enjoy going to them
particularly to see the decorations, clothes, and gifts which range from in
quality from cheesy and silly to beautiful and moving. I also enjoy looking through the self-help books. There is something ironic about Christian
self-help – not that all of these materials are bad, some are quite good! The idea of self-help in light of the message
of the Cross – that the only way to overcome sin and death is thought Jesus’
death and resurrection – seems counterintuitive.
I am picking on names and terminology, but
the point is this: As Christians we have
been freed by the Gospel. Jesus took everything
that stood against us, every charge of every sin, and He nailed them to the
cross. Having been baptized into Christ,
we have been buried with Him, and all the rules, regulations, and their
consequences cannot touch us because of Jesus.
We believe that. Yet we often get
sucked into the idea that we still must do something to earn God’s grace. We still ask, “Am I good enough?” We wonder, “What must I do?”
The change in behavior that comes with
conversion is not rooted in these questions or in rules. It is rooted in the new life Jesus gave
us. “You were also raised with Him through
faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” However, when people deal with the struggles
of living faithful lives instead of resting in what God has done, too often
they get a bunch of rules: “Do not
handle, do not taste, do not touch … according to human precepts and teaching.”
Paul says, “These have indeed an
appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and
severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of
the flesh.” Self-help principles sound
good – and some are when they deal with earthly things, after all financial
principles tend to work whether they are from a Christian or a pagan. But when it comes to our relationship with
God and our struggle against sin there is only one source of hope and power to
overcome. It is the Cross. We are made alive by Christ’s sacrifice.
Jesus overcame our sins and
struggles. Be confident in Him.
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me new
life. Help me to turn away from the
things I think I have to offer You and simply receive Your gift. Amen.
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