Inside Out

DEVOTION

COLOSSIANS

INSIDE OUT


Col 2:20-23

20 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
NIV


Could we be spending too much time and effort trying to understand how we should appear to others? Exhausting our energies on following the rules and regulations, the do’s and don’ts of the church to which we belong, seems to be the way of the faith. Yet, I cannot help but think that our Lord would have died in vain, for nothing at all, if we return to the bondage of the law. The scripture surely tells us this manner of living may have the appearance of wisdom, but the converse can only be true, this action, this manner of living can only be that of the foolish. To base one’s life on the human commands and teachings only can lead to a lifestyle of misery and guilt, a life doomed to fail in its dismal attempt to follow the law.

A person cannot achieve a holy lifestyle on the outside, without experiencing that transformation on the inside. These outward attempts cannot restrain the desires that are derived from within. Only an inner cleansing with the Blood of Christ will make a man whole. Only with the indwelling of the Spirit can those desires be overcome. True Christianity is from the inside out. I have to ask myself, has a complete transformation occurred within my being? At times I think so, yet most of the time I know I am still in the transformation process. I am on a journey traveling with my Lord, allowing Him to transform me from within. I have to be vigilant to maintain my willingness to allow Him to do this. I can restrain His efforts by exerting my own will and desires. Lord, help me to allow you free access from the inside out.