by Pastor Rich Carlson

In Colossians chapter 2, something is said to have been nailed to the cross. I don’t believe it was the law as the guiding principle for my life. I do think it was the law and man-made tradition as a means of trying to save myself. As I read through chapters 2 and 3, I find strong appeals from Paul not to judge others on the outward demonstrations of the issues of obedience that the people back then struggled with. When I have my own struggles trying to be good enough, when I try to "help" God love me, I need Colossians so I can remember that it doesn’t work.

However, in the same two chapters I do find commands that God calls me to so that I can have spiritual order and direction in following Jesus. Check these out:

• "Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him" (2:6). I need to live "in Jesus"—it’s good for me, it’s the right thing do to.
• Be "rooted and built up in him" (2:7). He needs to be the source of all my life.
• Be "strengthened in the faith" (2:7). Having faith, trust, and confidence in what I can’t see is important.
• Be "overflowing with thankfulness" (2:7). A thankful heart and mind must rule my life.
• Don’t let anyone take you "captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy" (2:8). You will be able to recognize this philosophy because:
  • it "depends on human tradition" (2:8). I need to watch out and not fall for what others think instead of what God says.
  • it is based on the "basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (2:8). The principles I follow must come from God rather than from my culture and society.
• "Set your hearts on things above" (3:1). I must not let my emotions get tangled up in what the world tells me should be number one.
• "Set your minds on things above" (3:2). I can’t let myself be duped by the intelligence and arguments of ungodly people.
• "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature" (3:5). Paul goes on to list examples of what he means (3:5-9). I need to take inventory of these things and may need to talk to God about what I see of them in my own life.
• "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" (3:15). God’s peace will rule my life when I have accepted His gift of salvation full and complete.
• "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (3:16). Being saturated with God’s word is the only real source of strength and comfort I have.
• "Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom" (3:16). Helping others find the way is a role we need to play.
• "Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts" (3:16). Sing, whistle, hum—whatever. I find a most amazing blessing and connectedness when I sing where no one but God can hear me. It is a critical part of my quiet time with God.
• Do everything "in the name of the Lord Jesus" (3:17). I must train myself to run all my plans past Jesus Christ.
• Be thankful (3:17, 4:2).  What a concept. If I increase my thankful thoughts and words and reduce my negative or critical thoughts and words, then I can’t help but be happier—no matter what happens.
• "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (4:2). My prayer could be, "God, please help me watch for the things in my life that distract me from You and the people You call me to serve. And remind me of how good I feel when I am just plain old thankful for the ordinary things in my life."

That’s quite a list of things to do in the chapters that sometimes seem to be calling for "freedom" from obedience. Outward forms do not save me—Jesus does. Obedience does not save me—Jesus does. Even whatever got "nailed to the cross" in chapter 2 does not save me—Jesus does. And in that complete assurance I respond by following Him and His ways which, I summarize in two points:

• It’s a head and a heart thing—a personal, intellectual, and emotional decision that my life will be like Jesus. I get excited about the decision I get to make for Him.
• It’s positive and not negative—most of it is what I should do, not what I cannot do. Even the negative parts of the list are all about keeping me from the bad in the world. The are not trying to make me good enough to be loved or accepted by God. It’s about making my life happier, not about appeasing an angry God. He already loves me. I don’t have to convince Him of that! Because He loves me I want to live for Him.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.