Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
In a world brimming with noise, countless voices are vying to define who you are. Culture attempts to shape you, experiences influence you, and feelings seek to interpret you. Yet, not every voice speaks the truth. Colossians 2:8 cautions us against being ensnared by ideas that seem attractive but lack true substance. This message is more than just a warning; it’s a powerful reminder to stay vigilant, to remain grounded, and to discern the difference between what merely sounds correct and what is genuinely true. Remember, your worth is not dictated by the world’s opinions, but by how God sees you. This article invites you to open your eyes, guard your mind, and step confidently into your true identity – the one shaped not by feelings or circumstances, but by the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Be blessed as you read!
“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Colossians 2:8 NKJV).
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
The word “captive” in Colossians 2:8 conveys the image of someone seized, bound, and led away in humiliation. Scripture warns us not to be taken captive by worldly philosophies or to build our lives on human traditions. Stop allowing the world to define you. Its standards attempt to determine whether you are successful, healthy, intelligent, a good spouse, a good parent, or a capable businessperson. Do not let what you possess, achieve, or lack determine your identity. Stop listening to the world’s definitions of who you are. Instead, build your identity on what God says about you.
Stop believing philosophies that define you by what you have accomplished, what you possess, or how the world measures success and failure. Do not allow these things to become your identity. True identity begins when you agree with how God sees you, even when your feelings tell you otherwise. You may not feel holy today, but your identity in Christ is not determined by how you feel in the flesh. You may wake up feeling discouraged, depressed, or anxious, but those feelings do not define who you are. Choose to see yourself as God sees you. Agree with what He says about you. That is what it means to find your identity in Christ. Many conditions are considered normal by the world, but the Bible reveals that they are not meant to define the life of a believer.
It’s not normal to be anxious
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) commands believers to replace worry with prayer and thanksgiving: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” This command is followed by a powerful promise. Philippians 4:7 assures us that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. We are called to surrender our burdens to God instead of trying to control every outcome. When worry knocks at your door, let it be a signal to pray, not a reason to panic. Turn your anxieties into prayers, allow thanksgiving to shift your focus from your problems to God’s faithfulness, and trust that He cares about every need. Therefore, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
" True identity begins when you agree with how God sees you, even when your feelings tell you otherwise. "
It’s not normal to be sick and remain sick
James 5:14-16 instructs those who are sick to call for the elders of the church, who are to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. The passage offers a powerful promise: the “prayer of faith” will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
If God wanted you to remain sick, Scripture would not ask, “Is anyone among you sick?” James 5:14-15 outlines a specific response for believers experiencing sickness: Call for the elders. The sick person is instructed to call the elders, the spiritual leaders of the church. Anoint with oil: The elders are to pray over the person and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Offer the prayer of faith: Scripture promises that “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up”. Receive forgiveness: If the person has committed sins, they will be forgiven.
It’ s not normal to live in fear, because perfect love casts out all fear, and also God has not given you a spirit of fear
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
It’s not normal to live a defeated life. See what God says about you
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
