Snap, Crackle, Pop

Colossians 2-Part 6
Don't let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nurishes it.   Colossians 2:18-19 (NLT)


LET IT GLOW

Getting up in the morning can be quiet an experience when you're on the down hill slide (over 50). I hear snap, crackle, and pop when I rise, bend over for houseshoes, reach for a glass of water. Anyone with me? If you don't have such daily events, hang on, friend, they are around the corner. Enjoy today.
I suppose all this added morning music means my body's joints are worn and muscles have been stretched many a mile. I'm thankful to be alive to hear it.

Paul uses the body as an analogy in our scriptures. Christ holds the church body (members) together because He is the head. He supplies nurishment, unity, and growth for His church. He keeps the members united, in spite of our diversity. However, the Gnostics lacks the vital connection with Christ and has never been a part of the body. (Liberty Bible Commentary)  

I need to keep my focus on Christ, who is my Head.


LET IT GROW

KJV  says verse 18 this way, "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seeen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind."

Paul is warning the Colossians against false philosophy:
*Don't let them rob you of your reward (prize).
*Look for a mocking (voluntary) humility.
*They worship angels (not Christ).
*Hallucinate, imagine and invent revelations, alleged visions.
*They are vainly puffed up (conceited, prideful).
*They are fleshly minded (unregenerated nature dominates, not spiritual nature).

I should look out for these characteristics when discussing religious beliefs with people. Then, make sure I do not do them.


LET IT GO

Be grateful for life with its challenges.

Stay focused on Christ and not be enticed by other religious beliefs.

Recognize a false philosophy by staying in the Word of God.