Holding Fast to the Head - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Colossians 2:18-19

Holding Fast to the Head
This is a warning that we will be cheated if we allow anyone to impose legal ordinances on us after we have known the grace of God in Christ. If we go back to the law, we will soon be guilty of breaking the law, which forbids worship to any but God. Yet legality, which is not true law-keeping, considers it humble to have angels as intermediaries, suggesting that we are not worthy to directly approach God in worship. This is false humility, an intrusion into that which one does not understand, but it puffs up the fleshly mind. It is mysticism, not subject to the clearly declared Word of God, though very religious and meticulous. Saints of God are strongly warned against this, for it deprives one of true blessing now and of reward in the future. It puts something other than Christ between the soul and God.

One glaring lack characterizes all of this: it is the lack of simple, honest recognition of Christ as Head. How is the body to function without the head? From Him, the Lord Jesus glorified, proceeds all nourishment and wisdom to maintain every activity of the body in unity. Joints enable some members to function in varying directions while remaining vitally connected with the body. There are strong, supple bands, binding the body together, especially supporting the joints and every area where dangers or weakness might be present. It is the Head by whom all of the body is knit together and by whom all is nourished and sustained. It is by Him that the body grows with the increase that is from God.

L. M. Grant