Today's Passage - Col 2:20-23

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Colossians 2:20-23   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: "Do not handle! Do not taste!  Do not touch!"?  ...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.   The Bible says that we need to die and live with the Lord, but since we are still alive, how do we die with the Lord?  This passage clearly tells us that the meaning of "die" is to "depart from."  Paul specifically said that we have already departed from "basic principles of this world," which are the regulations of the world that tell us to do this or not to that.  These regulations can help us to live a pious life, but they can also easily lead us to become self-righteous.  Remember what the Lord taught us through the parable of the Pharisee's prayer?  The Pharisee prayed: "Lord, I fast twice a week, and I donate one tenth of what I make to the poor."  He is indeed humble and sacrificial.  The Lord, however, said his prayer was just murmuring!  The Pharisee thought that he had made it and he could claim righteousness before God, but the Bible clearly tells us that people cannot become righteous by their deeds; if we could, Jesus wouldn't need to die for us on the cross.  In order to please God, we must come before God by faith, and made righteous by faith.   Paul wanted to become righteous by deeds.  He was a serious Pharisee, and he was zealous for the law.  When he was on the way to Damascus, a light from the Lord shined on him and he encountered the holy Savior.  He fell from the horse and laid flat on the ground.  All the sudden, he for the first time realized that the righteousness he held on to was merely a filthy rag before the holy Lord.  Therefore, he cried out before the Lord, "Lord, what shall I do?"  He knew that he must depart from what he thought was right before, and even depart from his authority over himself, and surrender before the Lord.   One who really encountered the Lord will never boast by his or her deeds, because as soon as you meet the Lord, you would realize how unworthy and filthy you are, completely unable to stand before God.  Have you ever boasted by your deeds, your strength or your gains?  Are there areas in your life that you think you are so right that you wouldn't listen to anyone's advice?  Or you think the grace you received is what you really deserve?  Are you willing to depart from your arrogant self, let God's Spirit shine inside you, and make you turn back to Him?      Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, please shine inside me, and find out whether there's any arrogance in me.  Lord, please send the fire of the Spirit to burn away everything that displeases you, so that I will once again have a righteous spirit.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!