Colossians 2:8 -Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. (HCSB)
In Paul’s day a magician was called a philosopher, so in v.8, Paul is saying “don’t be fooled by smoke and mirrors and slight of hand.” I once heard someone say that cults prey on Christians because the average Christian only knows the scripture someone else has told him. As part of a Bible study, my husband once made a list of well known and often quoted “scripture” verses that aren’t scripture at all.
- “God works in mysterious ways” (from a 19th century hymn written by William Cooper)
- “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” (coined by John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church)
- “Spare the rod, spoil the child” (possibly a paraphrase of Proverbs 13:24 – “the one who withholds the rod is one who hates his son”, but Samuel Butler, a 17th century British poet, actually coined the phrase)
- “Pride goes before a fall” (possibly a paraphrase of Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall”)
- “This too shall pass” (from an old English poem)
- “God helps those who help themselves” (credit is given to Ben Franklin but is also found in one of Aesop’s Fables)
- “the lion shall lay down with the lamb” (possibly from paintings done about scripture that includes animals, but Isaiah 11:6 says “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together”
- “it is good that man show moderation in all things” (Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean)
- “The Lord works in mysterious ways” (possibly a link to Isaiah 55:8 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord”, but the first stanza of a poem by William Cowper reads, “God moves in a mysterious way”)
- “Money is the root of all evil” (very close to 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.’)
Satan will use our false knowledge to create smoke and mirrors and slight of hand. He rearranged words, mixed some lies with truth, and misquoted scripture with Jesus (Matthew 4), and we are easy prey to him when we “almost” know God’s Word. Instead of relying on “scripture” we heard from someone else, let us study our Bibles, talk to God in prayer, and be able to join the psalmist in declaring “I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin.” (Psalm 119:11 TLB)
Anyone who knows me, even a casual acquaintance, knows how much I love the beach. I love taking my coffee out on the hotel balcony before the sun comes up and just listening to the waves. I love sitting and sipping while seeing the sky turn from black to shades of pink and blue as the sun announces the beginning of a new day. I love the feel of the waves as they wash over my toes on the sandy beach. I love the sights and sounds and smells. Behati Prinsloo said, “The beach is definitely where I feel most at home.” I can say “The beach is definitely where I feel most with God.” I see His strength as well as His gentleness when I see the waves. I see His power as well as His provision in the storm. I look around me with true awesome wonder and think of scripture. As the sun begins to brighten the beach and surrounding area, I think about Genesis 1:3 when God said “let there be light” and there was light. Thank You, Lord, for giving that direction to the sun and to my life. The sun and Your word both brighten my path so that I do not have to go through my life living in darkness (Psalm 119:105). I go for a walk on the beach, and walking with my head down, I think of Psalm 3:3. Thank you Lord for lifting my head from shame and defeat by letting me know that my sins are forgiven, that You say to me what You said to Jerusalem “the battle has already been won” (2 Chronicles 20:15). I look out across the ocean and think of Psalm 104:25. Thank You that in that vastness You have placed creatures that I will never know as well as creatures that I will have for dinner! Billy Graham said, “I believe the greatest form of prayer is praise to God”, and Lord, I am praising You right now. Although I am quiet and still, my spirit is following the command of Psalm 150:4 and is like David in 2 Samuel 6:14. As much as I love the ocean, I know that one day it will cease to exist (Revelation 21:1). I love the beach. Anyone who knows me, even a casual acquaintance, knows that. But, I won’t care when that day comes because, like Jonathan Edwards, I believe that “To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.” Thank You, Lord, that one day I will be there to fully enjoy You, but in the meantime, thank You for giving me this wonderful way to enjoy Your wondrous creation.
Coffee with my Creator 