Faith Walking

Scripture Read: Colossians   2:16. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by 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. 18  Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. 19  He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20  Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21  "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22  These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23  Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Application

I see two facets of faith here. One expressed by how we live, the other descriptive of what we should be. The first one is so applicable for today. The idea that the person talks about what he has SEEN. How appropriate for today’s church. That’s all that is talked about. A life of sight, not faith. God has to prove Himself with signs. What a step backwards the church has taken. The inward change and transformation that God works is not important. Only what we can hold, smell and taste. Sensual Christianity. Not faith walking. This ties right into the next thought. The church grows – notice – as God causes it to grow. We say it, but do we believe it. If we did we could relax and just focus on being faithful. This is hard to do. Relaxed does not equal inactivity, or laziness. But far to many times I think I live in such a way that I believe the work depends on me. I realize there is a balance here, but not so much in whether or not the church grows, but more in how. Am I going to play a part in it or not. Which really makes my own personal faithfulness to Him the key, not my gifts or talents. This is hard Lord, but with your help I can find that balance. Let me walk by faith and focus on being faithful.