Let no man therefore judge you

Since Christ Jesus is your Lord, says Paul, you need not be subject to ritual and mere human traditions. Christ is your Redeemer and your hope. He, our victorious Saviour, is exalted to the right hand of God, supreme over all angelic beings. We need not seek to gain favour with any spiritual forces, good or bad. Christ overcame all hostile spirits at His cross, exposing their helplessness to prevent His work there for us.

In circumcision the men of God in Old Testament times declared their covenant relationship with God. But our link with God depends on what Christ secured for us on the cross. He died to cancel our debt of sin, paid the debt in full, was victorious by His dying, rose to declare His victory and is at God’s right hand for us.

Old Testament ritual, therefore, is superseded, for it merely gave a shadowy advance hint of Christ’s work for us. The old food laws and feast days, linked to an earthly order of approaching God, have been made obsolete.

Preoccupation with seeking mystical experiences or ascetic practices will rob us of our enjoyment of the vital link we have with Christ our Head. It is in experiencing His ability to meet our daily need for spiritual strength that we, in fellowship with other believers, can become spiritually strong.

We have died with Christ, but we are also raised with Him to walk in newness of life. In accepting the reality of this link we can begin to see life’s experiences from a heavenly standpoint. Thus, we value and set our hearts upon what is in keeping with our allegiance to the glorified Lord. This applies both to material things and spiritual aspirations; there is no room here for self-congratulation based on our sup-posed superiority.

Our life is hid with Christ in God. We must not expect that worldly people will admire our choices or understand our priorities. This hidden life is secure, but it glorifies God the Giver and seeks no human sponsor or recognition. We take the long-term view: when Christ is manifested in the future day of His glory we shall then be manifested with Him. Heaven knows only one song: Christ our Lord is to be worshipped and adored.