Colossians 2:6-10

Scripture: from verse 8

Human tradition…accords with the elemental spirits of the world but does not accord with the Messiah.

Observation:  For a while I read the blog at MMSL, because I thought he had some interesting thoughts about relationships and the monogamous sexual dynamic.  I really like some of his ideas, but I eventually found it distasteful (though, I must admit, not necessarily false) that he assumes that the only real motivations we have are sex and fear.

These are the elemental spirits of the world.  The need to survive, the need to leave a legacy and a family and know that we will not be entirely forgotten.  The need to be loved and accepted by others.  The need to be safe from the unknowns of the universe.  Sex and fear.

And so we have human tradition and human culture, which stems from these things.  And they create some amazing and wonderful things: family, and music, and law.  There is truth and love and light mixed in with the darkness.  But they still have that unspoken agreement with the fears that drive us as humans.

And then there’s Messiah.  Who brings us life, and life abundantly (John 10:10).  Who says that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut 31:6).  Who promises that in all these things we will be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).  Who gives us perfect love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

We don’t have to be afraid anymore.

I’m not saying we should reject all of human tradition.  That would be impractical as well as unnecessary.  But human tradition shouldn’t rule us, because parts of it no longer make sense.  If we are in Messiah, we don’t have to be afraid.  And if we aren’t afraid, we are free to choose what will bless us and those around us.

Application:  Watch out for that fear.  It doesn’t accomplish anything good.  Ask God for guidance as you decide how to live.

Prayer: Yeshua, thank you for removing my fear.  Thank you for shedding light into the darkness.  Help me to choose to live in the light.  Amen.