Wed., 10/12/16 Devotion (Col. 2:23)

Today's encouragement comes from Colossians 2:23, where we read these words:

"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 indul-gence of the flesh."

Paul (here, above) is lambasting human religion, which always thinks that the way to godliness is through self-depravation. 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 to-day.

[Puritan quote of the day: "You have an accuser, but you have an Acquitter; you have adversaries, but you have an Advocate.” —Richard Alleine, in, "Heaven Opened"]