LET NO ONE ROB YOU

Colossians 2:6-10
6 As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving. 8 Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; (WEB)

In today's Scripture passage, the Apostle Paul tells us that those who have received Christ should walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and firmly established in the faith. He goes on to say that in Christ, our God and Father made all of His fullness dwell in bodily form. The key words that are repeated over and over in this passage are the words 'in Him'. Paul ends this passage with the words 'in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power'.

But in the middle of Paul's exhortation of every believer's position in Christ, he gives a warning.  He says in verse 8... Be careful that you don't let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ. (WEB) I believe Paul is basically saying that anything or anybody or any tradition that tries to divert us from the simple truth of being 'in Christ' is attempting to rob us from the very core of the gospel.

No amount of self effort, striving, traditions, world systems, philosophies, etc., etc., could ever do for us what Jesus Christ freely did on our behalf. My prayer today is that we would not let any good intentions that are rooted in anything but Christ, rob us from the simple yet life changing message of... 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'.

Colossians 1:26-29
26 the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, 27 to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; 28 whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; 29 for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily. (WEB)