SCRIPTURE: Colossians 2
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2:16-17]
Paul honours Jesus like the Jews honoured the Law of Moses; for the Jews the Torah was the highest reality next to God, but for Paul Jesus is that highest reality.
Paul goes further, he describes the Law as a shadow (symbols, not the real thing but vague impressions of the real thing) of Jesus.
Our devotion is not the a set of rules, but to a person – Jesus the Messiah.
He has made it possible for us to be set free from the curse of the Law (doomed to always break it) and the accusation of the devil (rightfully mocked as Law-breakers), by taking that curse upon Himself (through His death) and beating the devil’s accusation (through His resurrection).
Jesus has fulfilled the imagery of both circumcision (the old testament) and baptism (the new testament), and now the only thing that counts is our connection to Jesus.
Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. [Matthew 5:17-19]
Jesus knows that people misunderstand why He came – some people hoped that He would re-establish the Law to its rightful place (legalism), and others hoped that He would get rid of it altogether (liberalism).
But Jesus is not opposed to the Law, He is the reality which casts the shadow of the Law.
In other words, the Law gives us a vague impression of what Jesus is all about.
Now that we see Jesus, we can say of the Law – ‘oh, so that’s what it was getting at!’
The sacrifices pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus; the temple pictured the life of a person with God in their heart; the details laws of cleanness and holiness showed the completeness of God’s will for all of life, and how it was impossible for us to keep God’s Law by ourselves; the 10 commandments gave a picture of what loving God and neighbour would look like when applied in that time and culture…
But in the end, we are not Law-focused, but Jesus-focused.
If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus; if you want to know the kind of life that God wants us to live, look at Jesus; if you want to relate to God personally, look at Jesus.
This does not mean that we can now ignore the Law: So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. [Matthew 5:19]
The Law (and the whole bible) is a tool that can guide us in understanding Jesus better.
But Jesus is the focus, and must remain that way; if the Law becomes the focus (and being critical of others for not following the Law like us), then we have lost our connection to Jesus.
This is why, by the way, I always tie in a passage from the gospels with every reflection I write.
To me, every passage somehow sheds light on Jesus and His teaching!
PRAYER:
Lord, there are many passages in the bible that are hard to interpret in relation to You. But I will keep on looking to You, and trust that in time You will help me to understand. Help me to find the reality in You!
From today’s reading, the passage in verse 2 stood out to me (from Message version) –
“I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ”
The part I like is the “in touch with everything there is to know of God”. How can I be in touch with everything there is to know of God? When I think of the imagery used of a tapestry of many coloured and textured strings woven together, I am excited about the diversity that there can be in tapestries.
“In touch with everything there is to know of God”
It gives me great comfort to know there is a wide variety of resources that God provides for us all to know more about Him.
Here are only a few …
– time spent in His word learning truth
– time spent in relationship with Him in prayer
– time spent in relationship with others learning of how He gives multiple gifts to many
– time spent in His creation marvelling at lessons in nature and at the beauty of it all
– time spent working with others
– time spent in laughter and in tears with others
… many more I am sure. Our God is good to surround us with so much – it overwhelms me of how much I am able to learn about my Creator, redeemer and Lord!
“I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ”
Thank you Lord … I am not alone
Life is in Christ Jesus and not in the traditions of mankind. As He has told us , ‘Live and do this. This is the way. Walk in it.’ Jesus is the answer. It is only in Him that I am alive. Alive forevermore.
I need to walk with Him each day and talk with Him as I walk. I need to listen to the voice which says, “This is the Way. Walk in it.’
Help me in my walk this day Lord.
O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!
Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.
Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.