These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline… (Col. 2:22)

They will keep you busy. They won’t be easy. They will make you look impressive. I remember in years gone by, friends commended me for being able to resist alcohol. I had friends who partied and couldn’t understand how I could resist. What they didn’t know is that I was imbibing on a stronger substance: self-righteousness. By abstaining from liquor, I could feed my need for a stronger vice: pride. This is the first of the problems with body-rules. They make you look good. They have an appearance of strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. These erect a kind of facade that the world sees as righteousness. This feeds our pride and perpetuates the problem. It’s why we get trapped, but there’s a bigger problem still.

These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires. (Col. 2:22-23)

Oh, how often we fall into the trap of thinking outward obedience equates to inward transformation! We build walls of rules around ourselves, thinking that by controlling our actions, we're somehow changing who we are. But as this passage so powerfully points out, these "body-rules" are often just a smokescreen. We can become so consumed with *appearing* righteous that we neglect the true work of the Spirit within us. It's like polishing the exterior of a rusty car while the engine is falling apart. We may impress others, even ourselves, with our self-control, but inside, the desires and motivations remain unchanged, festering in the darkness.

The passage highlights a crucial truth: that our focus must shift from the external to the internal. We can't simply manage our behavior; we must allow the Spirit to transform our hearts and minds. This chapter challenges the notion that Christianity is a list of dos and don'ts. Instead, it's about seeking a deeper connection with our Creator, allowing His presence to reshape our desires and redirect our focus.

It's not about striving to *look* good, but about becoming truly good from the inside out. Let's fix our eyes on the One who can truly transform us, and allow His love to purify our hearts. Dive deeper into this liberating truth; you can find it in Things Above.