January 23, 2025 7:00 pm
My wife and I like cheesy, feel-good romantic movies. I could say it’s her thing. But I like ’em too. Their charm and appeal lies in their predictable path toward happily ever after. Recently, we watched one that offered some questionable romantic advice. Love is a feeling, it said. Then, Follow your heart. Finally: Your happiness matters most. Our emotions matter, of course. But self-focused emotionalism is a lousy foundation for a lasting marriage.
Mainstream culture dishes up many ideas that sound good initially but crumble upon closer inspection. And careful inspection is exactly what Paul has in mind in Colossians 2. There, he emphasizes that being “rooted and built up in [Christ], strengthened in the faith” (v. 7) enables us to identify our culture’s lies. The apostle calls such lies “hollow and deceptive philosophy,” built “on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ” (v. 8).
So the next time you watch a movie, ask yourself or those you’re with, “What does this movie suggest is wise? How does that compare to what Scripture says is true?” And remember that it’s Christ that matters most. Only in Him can we find true wisdom and wholeness (vv. 9–10).
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See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy. Colossians chapter 2, verse 8.
Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Christ Matters Most was written by Adam R. Hulse and read by Stephen Tabor. Colossians chapter 2, verses 6 through 12. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives 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 elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In Him, you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands.
Your whole self, ruled by the flesh, was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Christ Matters Most, written by Adam R. Hulse My wife and I like cheesy, feel-good romantic movies. I could say it's her thing, but I like them too. Their charm and appeal lies in their predictable path toward happily ever after. Recently, we watched one that offered some questionable romantic advice. Love is a feeling, it said. Then follow your heart. Finally, your happiness matters most. Our emotions matter, of course.
But self-focused emotionalism is a lousy foundation for a lasting marriage. Mainstream culture dishes up many ideas that sound good initially, but crumble upon closer inspection. And careful inspection is exactly what Paul has in mind in Colossians 2. There he emphasizes that being rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in the faith, enables us to identify our culture's lies. The apostle calls such lies hollow and deceptive philosophy, built on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.
So the next time you watch a movie, ask yourself or those you're with, what does this movie suggest is wise? How does that compare to what scripture says is true? And remember that it's Christ that matters most. Only in him can we find true wisdom and wholeness.
Would you spend some time in prayer with me? Dear Lord, grant us discernment to recognize the hollow philosophies of this world and the strength to remain rooted in your truth. Help us to seek wisdom in Christ alone that we may stand firm in faith and not be swayed by the fleeting ideas of our culture. Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus name we pray.
Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. How does popular culture shape how you see the world? How does your faith help you evaluate the values you encounter in entertainment?
Whisper: medium.en / 2025-01-23 21:20:07 / 2025-01-23 21:21:44 / 2