Freedom
Day 637, Sunday, May 10
Colossians 2:16 – 3:17
Paul returns to his celebration of Christian freedom, along with his insistance that freedom does not lead to indulgence. “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath day.” Unspoken but implied is that we are also not to judge others based on such things.
He says in verse 2:23, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” In fact, fanatical attachment to rules and regulations can become its own form of indulgence, leading to obsession with the very things they seek to avoid.
Attaining freedom in Christ allows us, Paul says, to put to death not only obvious sins like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, but also sins we are more likely to ignore: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language.
Instead we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 119:89-96
Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.

Prayer focus
Free us, O Lord, for love.