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Scripture Passage: Colossians 2:6-8

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Devotional Entry:  

     2020 seems to have unraveled itself into a decade’s worth of history, all jam packed into one year.  For many of us it has brought our focus to a multitude of different areas of life.  With all these things happening around us came a variety of emotions as well as heightened, more passionate feelings.  Social media posts, news headlines, conversations with friends, relatives and co-workers influencing and designing the architecture of your thoughts, emotions and choices. Recognizing all of this within myself I knew I needed to ground myself in our loving, Heavenly Father and reckoning who He created me to be.

     In my dialogue with the Holy Spirit, He has explained to me that all of these external things (things not of Him) are feeding me. Encouraging me to choose sides, to tout my beliefs and to denounce the opposite – mask vs no mask, all lives matter vs black lives matter, republican vs democrat, pro-life vs pro-choice, etc…

     I could feel having to choose became more important than what God says about who I am – a Son of God.  This scripture clearly tells us how we are to live – rooted in him.  We are followers of Christ before anything else and we are to follow his commandments, whether we understand it or not.  Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

     Being an election year, we do have the power to choose. We will be inundated with man’s philosophy, encouraging us to vote one way or another.  Commercials, ads, rallies, one party vs. another, one law vs. another.  When we put political parties, race, gender before God’s word, we are idolizing something other than Him.  In Colossians, Paul reminds believers where our foundation lies.  Christ lives within us and us in Him.  This is our identity.  This is our identity before any political party.  The decisions we make, including how we vote, are to be based on the truths spoken to you from God and the Bible.

Challenge:

     You are what you eat.  What are you feeding yourself with?  The news? Social media? Or are you feeding yourself with Biblical truth?  The only thing that’s true is what’s in the Bible and what God says. He always gets the last word.  Spend your time indulging in quality calories, especially if what you’re eating doesn’t make you feel good.  Involve the Holy Spirit in all of your decisions.  You have time, nothing but time.  It only takes a moment.  Tune in to Him.  Pray.  Read the word.  Sometimes you have to just change the channel.