Thursday, February 14, 2013

What Profits the Soul? (Colossians 2:20-23)


Today's scripture: Colossians 2:20-23

Sometimes, I have to go to the experts to help me understand scripture ... This is one of those times. While I understand verse 20—since I have died with Christ, I don't need to be submitting to the world's "decrees"—the other verses require a bit of clarification. And so I'm looking to one of my favorite commentaries:

These are not matters of eternal moment; the different kinds of meats were made for the body, and go with it into corruption: in like manner, all the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion now perish, having accomplished the end of their institution; namely, to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. All these prescriptions and rites have indeed the appearance of wisdom, and are recommended by plausible reasons; but they form a worship which God has not commanded, and enjoin macerations of the body, accompanied with a humiliation of spirit, that are neither profitable to the soul, nor of any advantage to the body; so that the whole of their religion is nothing worth. (Adam Clark Commentary)
In other words, only those things that keep my mind focused on God's word, only those things that help me grow in faith, and only those things that glorify God are worthy of my time and effort.

What am I doing, saying, thinking, reading, or watching that isn't "profitable to the soul"? If it's not, then perhaps I shouldn't be ...


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