October 22, 2024

Passage Read: Colossians 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:16-18

Thought

I am not to allow anyone to judge me in regards to food or drink or a festival or holy day, including the Sabbath. These things all were important at one time, separating the Israelites from the surrounding peoples, making them distinct and unique, but what really sets us apart is Christ Himself! So no one should have any power over me, I should fear no one who thinks I'm bad for not observing these rules and others like them. Christ came to redeem me from godless ways, which has far more to do with how I treat others than what I eat or drink and what holidays I observe. When Paul talks elsewhere about beating his body and making it his slave so as not to be disqualified for the prize, he's not talking about food or drink or holidays, but about sin, about not loving a neighbor as himself and not loving God above all.

Application

While this doesn't mean I can go around attacking and eliminating those who attempt to judge me for what I eat or drink and what holidays I do or do not observe, or any other outward "sign" of spirituality, it does mean I have no need to fear them and shouldn't listen to them. I'm free to ignore them. I could try to correct them, but interestingly, Paul doesn't say that, as if there's no hope of getting through to these kinds of people. They have become severed from Christ and so they can't hear, understand or receive the truth. Paul's focus is on me ignoring them and living in true righteousness rather than in some false appearance of righteousness.