Colossians 2:16-23 (NRSV)
Hold fast to Christ, the head
Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch"? All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self indulgence.
Reflection
Don't you get a kick out of these people that have these fantastic visions of God or Jesus and then relate it all to some deed that needs to be accomplished or some amount of money that needs to be raised for God's good.
I can get enough visions of God right from the Words of the Bible that were left for me to look over and be confused about without someone else adding their own versions. And on top of all that, I've had enough of my own dreams and visions to occupy me for a life-time.
But aside from all the dreams and visions, we have someone in the flesh we can hold onto and worship and study. God came in flesh to all people in Jesus. God came in Spirit to all people through the gift of the Spirit. We have both physical and spiritual right here together. I don't need to add anything to that. That's enough for me for an eternity. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, forgive me when I think I need something more than you. --- Amen
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