SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/5/2017 11:37 PM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 “Asceticism”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Col. 2:20-23
Message of the verses: “20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”
We want to finish up looking at these verses which speak
of asceticism which means
one who lives a life of rigorous self-denial.
Asceticism is something that can be described as useless
as it focuses attention on “things
destined to perish with the using,” as described in verse 22. Paul finishes verse twenty-two by writing in
accordance with the commandment and teachings of men.” There is no spiritual value in keeping the commandments
and teachings of men because they are just commandments from men.
Asceticism is impotent as we see in verse 23 for it has “the appearance of wisdom in
self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body,”
but it is “of no value against fleshly indulgence.” The ones who practice it may seem like they
are spiritual in their appearance because of their emphasis of humility and
poverty, however it serves only to gratify the flesh. Things have to be done for the glory of God,
and not according to the flesh. In
Matthew 6:16-18 we see that Jesus warned His disciples against asceticism: “16 "Whenever you fast, do not put on a
gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that
they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they
have their reward in full. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head
and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by
your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret
will reward you.” This perfectly
describes what believers are not to do, and also what they should do.
John MacArthur quotes a nineteenth century Scottish
preacher, Alexander Maclaren who wrote “Any asceticism is a great deal more to
men’s taste than abandoning self. They
will rather stick hooks in their backs and do the ‘swinging poojah’ than give
up their sins and yield up their wills.
There is only one thing that will put the collar on the neck of the
animal within us and that
is the power of the indwelling Christ.
Ascetic religion is godless, for its practitioners essentially worship
themselves. As such, we are not to be
intimidated by it.”
Now as we look at these warnings that Paul gave to those
in the Colossian church, he
is also giving us the same warning.
We have to guard against trying to do things on our own and not do them
in the power of the Spirit so that Jesus Christ will be glorified.
We will begin to look at
Colossians 3:1-4 in our next SD.
4/5/2017 11:58 PM
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