Fred's Devo 15:10 "Don't Follow Man Made Rules: Follow Christ"

Key Verse: So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Colossians 2:21-23 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul was addressing an error or false teaching that had arisen among the Colossian saints. "This false teaching tried to reduce Christianity into a legal system and to obscure the person and work of Christ" See: http://www.abu.nb.ca/ecm/Col00b.htm

Paul had already told them in Colossians 1:18 that all things have preeminece in Christ.

He pleaded with these early Christians not to allow their Jewish and Gnostic friends to lay on them any extra rules other than faith and obedience in Christ!

16 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. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 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, 19 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 nourishes it.

Christ has set them free from following worldly legalistic rules. They do nothing to deal with man's evil heart!
20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, 21 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? 22 Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. 23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.

Prayer: Father, thank you for this reminder to follow Christ and Christ alone. Help me not to give my allegiance to any human beleif or legalistic doctrine which tries to make me righteous apart from Christ. As you say in vs 23: These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. Lord, I trust you to change me through the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ my Lord and In His Strong Name! Amen!