Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, December 8, 2016

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“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8).

Are you a philosopher? Do you think very deeply? Do you guide your life by the philosophies of others?

If you’ve been experiencing our devotional thoughts for any period of time, you would have come to note that my questions are always multi-layered. Today’s line of questioning is no exception.

I think most of us have, at one point or another, succumbed to "worldly" philosophies. Some have been related to religion and worship. Some have been related to family and relationships. Some have been related to entertainment. Some have been related to employment and business. There is no dearth of opportunities to deviate, in any of these areas, from a straight and narrow road, marked our by God. False religions and legalism have lead many on the path to destruction. Disrespect, abuse, and promiscuity have become commonplace in our families. We often watch and actively listen to programming that tends toward the baser elements of our characters. Many have sacrificed family, integrity, and conscience to turn a quick buck (or in hopes of doing so). Most of us have, at one point or another, succumbed to worldly philosophies.

God has been kind enough to provide many eternal security measures to insulate us against such intellectual, emotional, and spiritual attacks. He has provided salvation as a gift, through Christ, to deliver us from sin. He has provided a constant spiritual measuring rod of instruction in righteousness called the Word of God. He has provided the ministry of holy angels who excel in strength to protect us and support our journey toward right relationship with God. He has given us a constant holy Companion we know as the Holy Spirit, to guide us into all truth, convict us of sin, teach us righteousness, and facilitate the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives. This, my friends, is available to all who are willing to be lead and changed by God. This is the key to having our minds completely taken up by God’s perspective on life and eternity, which will stand as an armed guard against all the wiles of devilish philosophies.

I hope that you are not a philosopher or following the paradigms of worldly philosophy. I hope that you, rather, are a truehearted follower of the heavenly King.—L. David Harris (www.davidwritesalot.com)