See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ~ Colossians 2:8-17
Are you just like a vehicle on a muddy road? Stuck in a rut? Feeling bogged down with life in general? This is when you need to take a look around you and see where your focus lies. Are you only traveling on the same old road that society has had you on for far too long? A road that is a "short-cut" to where you think you want to be? Or is there another, less traveled road in much better condition that perhaps you should turn onto to continue your journey through life.
Christ has a far better road to travel on through this life to the next. We need to avoid the temptation of traveling the "short-cuts" that society tells us to take, for these roads tend to beat us up as we travel down them, leading us further and further from Christ. Instead, focus on traveling the "highway to heaven" in the direction of Christ. This doesn't mean there won't still be a pothole here and there that leaves us a bit jostled in our faith from time to time, but by following Christ's path that is outlined in His Word, we will have the tools necessary to keep ourselves together through this journey on earth. Christ has given us an "overhaul" through baptism - having cleaned all of the "gunk" that had built up in our lives - giving us a clean "engine" of a soul that runs by faith in Him. With Christ, we don't have to live by society's rules, for Christ's rules far outweigh the rules of society and will make us more like Him, which is another goal we wish to achieve in this journey. Society may ridicule us for taking Christ's road, but we know that His road is the safest and only way to get to where we truly want to be - in eternity with Him one day.
Prayer
Dearest Lord Jesus,
Life is a difficult road for us to travel. We have Your perfect example to follow, by reading, studying and meditating on Your Word and then following what You have told us to do. Even though we follow You, we know life still may not be easy here on earth, but we do know where we are heading when we obey Your direction. By following You, we have the peace of knowing that our destination of eternity with You is worth the journey we must take to get there. Thank You for Your guidance and mercy You give us at all times. Amen.
