Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8 ESV
Before we knew Christ, we had to depend on other things to guide our lives. We were, in fact, spiritually lost with no anchor for our souls. But that didn’t stop us from desperately trying anything and everything in an attempt to fill that gnawing ache for identity and purpose that only God can provide.
There is only one firm foundation to build your life upon. That is the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything else is temporary. Even your life here on Earth. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Heaven and Earth will pass away but the Word of the Lord endures forever. God is calling us back to childlike faith. Reasoning and obedience are sometimes at odds. If we subscribe to human traditions, a life of faith seems foolish. If we live according to worldly standards, following Jesus seems like the denial of self. Which it is.
And that’s the best part. When Jesus Christ is your highest authority, you no longer have to depend on yourself to know what to do. No amount of education, experience, wealth or authority will give you the quiet confidence that a relationship with God does.
One of the best parts about knowing God is that you finally find the peace that surpasses understanding. Beyond knowledge, beyond wisdom, beyond the limits of human understanding is the peace of God. It transcends circumstances. It is a rock in times of trouble.
Knowing God means you can rest in peace. Both now and for eternity. God loves us. His grace is sufficient to overcome all the bad in our lives to deliver us into His unshakable Kingdom. Entrance is afforded by the blood of Christ. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone.
Rest is one of the original Ten Commandments. Keep the Sabbath holy. The Pharisees got mad at Jesus because they thought He was doing work on the Sabbath by healing people. He was but He wasn’t. He was simply being obedient to do what His Father was doing. He walked in complete unity with the Father.
Taking a rest from the world is an act of faith. It shows that you trust God to provide for you even when you do nothing but hang out with God. It also shows that you trust God to take care of everything. You’re not the one holding it all together, God is. Even when you’re gone, life will continue on. So trust God. Take a break. Relax and reflect. Let God minister to your weary soul. Let Him fill you up as only He can.
The world is a bunch of unruly and boisterous children demanding your attention. They are unashamed and even proud of their utter depravity of mind. Nothing good will come from following their ways. We don’t have to judge. God will do that. Our job is to rescue sinners held captive by the enemy’s lies. The truth is our weapon.
Speaking the truth in love is the ultimate assault on the kingdom of darkness. People are not the enemy, the devil is. People held captive by the enemy are looking for excuses to reject Christ as Lord and Savior. You don’t overcome evil with evil. You overcome evil with love.
If you know Jesus, you’re already safe. You have nothing to prove and nothing to lose. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Be fearless in loving without judgment. Trust God to do the heavy lifting. Be obedient to Christ in all things. Don’t rely on your own reasoning. Walk with God.
Lord God, we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand. We confess as sin trusting in ourselves and our abilities instead of You. We repent of trying to reason our way forward instead of praying and being obedient to Your will. Forgive us, O God, for being self-willed. Guide us, O Father, according to Your will, in accordance to Your plan. We rejoice in Your goodness, kindness and patience. Be near to us, O God, as we draw near to You. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.