"These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
Paul (here, above) is lambasting human religion, which always thinks that the way to godliness is through self-deprivation. Works-religion is consumed with *doing* things, designed to impress God, so that He will be obligated to save the religionist, and/or to do something good for him (or her). They also believe that somehow this asceticism will subdue the flesh and its desires.
But *no* amount of strident religious activity can do anything to please God. Only Jesus satisfies the Father. *We* are acceptable to God *only* as we are seen by the Father as being *in* Christ, by faith. Let us trust in our Savior today.
[Puritan quote of the day: "You have an accuser, but you have an Ac-
quitter; you have adversaries, but you have an Advocate." --Richard Alleine, in, "Heaven Opened"]
