Believing “Things” Instead of Trusting Christ 

Colossians 2:8

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

“The bright yellow canary birds were an early coal miner’s life insurance policy. Carried below ground in cages, the animals’ highly sensitive metabolism detected methane and carbon monoxide gas traces that signaled potential explosions, poisoned air or both. For instance, when consumed by the effects of carbon monoxide, a canary would sway noticeably on his perch before falling, a much better indicator of danger than the limited struggle and squatting, extended posture a mouse might assume.” (adapted from www.petcaretips.com)

Paul gave the Colossian believers a “yellow canary” for testing any ideas, teachings or philosophies that might try to invade their thinking. Like miners in a cave who worked hard and might not be sensitive to all that was going on around them, they simply had to glance periodically at a small, easy to see bird to be able to test the safety of the air around them. Colossians 2:8 is that test. Read the verse several times, and jot down why you think Paul gave the Colossians this test for figuring out if the “spiritual air” was safe to consume.