“Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 2:20-23)
Do you ever think the solution to the world’s problems is more rules? I sometimes do. If we could just get people to do the right thing! If we could just stop people from doing the wrong things! Maybe if we made some more rules, passed some more laws, and outlawed more things, people would be better.
Would that work? Well, rules might make us look better in other people’s eyes. That’s why it’s so attractive to make more rules. We want to look good! So we make rules based on our definition of good: “Good people look like this.” “Good people don’t eat this.” “Good people care about this.” “Good people don’t do that.” We make rules we can follow, and when we follow our own rules, we look good to others.
But not to God. Rules can make us look better in other people’s eyes, but not in God’s eyes. Know why? God sees the real problem: We don’t need to avoid certain foods. We need a new heart. We don’t need to cut caffeine out of our diet. We need to be forgiven. See the difference? Our human rules don’t do anything to keep us from sinning. Our human rules don’t do anything to clean our sinful hearts.
Rules don’t make you better, but Jesus does. That’s why Paul commanded the Colossians to turn away from human commands and teachings and turn to Jesus. Jesus makes us better from the inside out. He cleansed our hearts through his blood and the waters of baptism. He changes us through the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word. Salvation and forgiveness and peace and joy aren’t found in a self-righteous life of human rules. They are found in a faithful Christian heart that trusts in God’s grace.
Rules don’t make people better. Jesus does!
Dear Jesus, forgive me for thinking that a few more human rules will solve my and the world’s problems. How foolish! Thank you for the blood you shed on the cross to make me truly good inside. Amen.
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