SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 4/5/2017
11:37 PM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 “Asceticism”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Col. 2:20-23
Message of the
verses: “20 If you have died with
Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in
the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do
not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish
with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These
are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made
religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no
value against fleshly indulgence.”
We want to finish up looking at these verses which speak
of asceticism which means one who lives a life of rigorous self-denial.
Asceticism is something that can be described a useless
as it focuses attention on “things destined to perish with the using,” as
described in verse 22. Paul finishes
verse twenty-two by writing in accordance with the commandment and teachings of
men.” There is no spiritual value in
keeping the commandments and teachings of men because they are just
commandments from men.
Asceticism is impotent as we see in verse 23 for it has “the
appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe
treatment of the body”, but it is “of no value against fleshly indulgence.” The ones who practice it may seem like they
are spiritual in their appearance because of their emphasis of humility and
poverty, however it serves only to gratify the flesh. Things have to be done for the glory of God,
and not according to the flesh. In
Matthew 6:16-18 we see that Jesus warned His disciples against asceticism: “16 "Whenever you fast, do not put on a
gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that
they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they
have their reward in full. 17 "But you, when you fast, anoint your head
and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by
your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret
will reward you.” This perfectly
describes what believers are not to do, and also what they should do.
John MacArthur quotes a nineteenth century Scottish
preacher, Alexander Maclaren who wrote “Any asceticism is a great deal more to
men’s taste than abandoning self. They
will rather stick hooks in their backs and do the ‘swinging poojah’ than give
up their sins and yield up their wills.
There is only one thing that will put the collar on the neck of the
animal within us and that is the power of the indwelling Christ. Ascetic religion is godless, for its
practitioners essentially worship themselves.
As such, we are not to be intimidated by it.”
Now as we look at these warnings that Paul gave to those
in the Colossian church, he is also giving us the same warning. We have to guard against trying to do things
on our own and not do them in the power of the Spirit so that Jesus Christ will
be glorified.
We will begin to look at
Colossians 3:1-4 in our next SD.
4/5/2017 11:58 PM
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