Out of the Shadows
Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ. For in Him the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily, and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah. Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.
Therefore don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is the Messiah.
(Colossians 2:8-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)
“Getting back to our Jewish roots,” may be an interesting historical study to help things make sense, but going back to the shadows is not a good plan for moving forward into the new things our God wants to lead us into – where Christ is the reality. “Traditions of men” that have been formed by the Roman church and taken up as holy by her offspring are more shadows – images cast like silhouettes by the reality of Jesus. Days and diets and disciplines may all have a place of being reminders or means to focusing our attention, but only the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is the strength for change. The disciplines may put us in a position or a condition in which He can change us, but they cannot change us.
Be filled with Him. Be led by Him. Be transformed, as He renews your mind.