Passage Read: Colossians 1-2
Meditation Verses: 2:18-19
Thought
Paul covers several ways that fleshly men can lead astray a genuine believer. Here he talks about one who delights in self-abasement and the worship of angels. This man claims to have seen visions and he preaches from those visions, but Paul says those visions aren't from God, but from the man's own fleshly mind! He doesn't hold fast to Christ, but goes off on his own ideas. Holding fast to Christ means we cannot teach or believe anything that goes astray from what has been revealed and recorded in Scripture. If a man claims to have a vision, perhaps of angels giving new guidance or promises or assurances that are not backed up by Scripture, then that man is not speaking from the Lord, but from his own fleshly mind. As Paul and John teach elsewhere, we need to test everything against the revelation of Scripture. Let the prophet speak his prophecy. Let the interpreter interpret tongues. Let the word of wisdom or knowledge be spoken. But test every word and tongue and prophecy and any other teaching against the Word of God, established by the Bible.
Application
It is too easy to be led astray. It is too easy to be enamored or impressed by some supposed spiritual gift. But if it violates revealed truth, then it is not from God. The devil himself was once an angel of light, and he still knows how to put on the costume. I must not be deceived. The mind of man is incredibly creative, and those who wish to be counted as something too easily come up with their own ideas of truth and righteousness. If I or they refuse to submit to the revealed Word of God, then we will be far too easy to lead astray. As much as I would like some incredible manifestation of the Spirit of God on me or through me, I need to fully submit to and trust every Word of God recorded in the Bible. That's my foundation. That keeps me anchored in the truth of Christ. That keeps me on the right path and guards me from false teachers and false teachings. I don't need to chase after spiritual gifts; I need to invest my time and effort into knowing and living the Bible through and through.