Day 15

If our spiritual life is not derived from Christ Himself, we are likely to turn to external rules and laws to govern our Christian life.

‘They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.’ (COLOSSIANS 2:19)

The most serious thing that can happen to a true believer is to lose connection with the head of the Body – Jesus Christ. When we operate out of mere human ingenuity and strength rather than in the strength of Christ, we lose connection to the Head and life becomes a human enterprise.

Consequently, we cease to draw on the resources and strength that equip us for godliness, and exchange them for rules we manage ourselves. Not only does this bind us to legalism (living under the pressure of external laws) but it often makes us judgmental of others. If we are striving to live to some external ideal or standard, we like to be able to measure it so we know how we’re doing. In measuring, we tend to elevate our own score by judging others who we see as having failed.

The antidote to this is to realize that everything we are called to be and do comes from the presence of Jesus Christ within us. Our acts of obedience are carried out in a spirit of dependence, where ‘the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it’ (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Lord, I want to stay connected to You and draw strength from You today.