Day 31: Overflowing Gratitude!
8Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. Colossians 2:8
We live in an age when a great deal of empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ surrounds us. Whether on television or in magazines, or the latest books and movies, we are constantly bombarded by empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense. When these are presented in an entertaining manner, we may not even realize what the empty philosophy or high-sounding nonsense is! For example, a new movie is coming out soon titled, “The Golden Compass.” The author of the book on which the movie is based is an atheist and the book and movie are an attempt to promote an atheistic world-view. The trailers for the movie look really good (don’t most trailers!), and yet the movie’s philosophy is in direct opposition to our faith. If we are to maintain an attitude of gratitude, if our lives are to overflow with thankfulness, then we must keep ourselves focused on Jesus, and anchored in His word. The Bible is our standard for all matters of faith and daily living. When what we see, or hear, or watch or read contains values different than we gain from God’s word, we can be sure that it is an empty philosophy or high sounding nonsense. It matters little whether they come from human thinking or the evil powers of this world, since the end result is the same—we are distracted and led astray from Jesus. As you go about this day, remember that God wants us to be faithful and to be wise in His ways so that when empty philosophies come to us, we will see them for what they, and remain faithful.
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
Where are you most likely to be exposed to “empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense?” What are you doing to be ready when they come your way?