Cut It Out

Have you ever wondered why the Bible speaks about circumcision so often? In the Old Testament, it mostly refers to it in the literal sense and in the New Testament it’s usually figurative.

The thought of circumcision is a bit cringe worthy, so I never really gave it much thought. All three of my children are boys, so I personally grasp the concept. As I made the medical decision for my newborn children, deep down I remember it feeling barbaric. However, I understood the importance of it being done, but didn’t want to talk about it much.

When I would see this word in the Bible, I tended to gloss over it. But once again, God is spot on with the exact word he chose to deepen our understanding. The usage of this word is both relevant and extremely powerful even in our lives today.

Consider the scripture in Colossians 2:10-13

“...in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ., having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...”

First, we want to consider that the word circumcise literally means “to cut off…” When we choose the Lord, we die to ourselves and our fleshly desires. In baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised with him through our faith. In that process Christ circumcises, or cuts off, our whole self that was ruled by the flesh. Once we are brought to that fullness in Christ, we “... live our lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

Basically, out with the old (flesh), in with the new (Christ)!! However, this doesn’t mean it’s all cotton candy and carnival rides from then on. The battle still rages on but now we have the power of Christ within us to strengthen us!! We are well aware that the enemy roams around seeking to devour us, trip us up, confuse us, bum us out, make us mad, make us doubt and do anything he can to have us turn even one degree away from the Lord. We know what happens to a plane if it is even 1 degree off course right? It doesn’t reach its destination! And the longer the small degree of separation, the wider the gap gets overtime.

So right now, today, is a perfect time to check in with ourselves. Is there anything that you need “to cut off” or cut out of your life? Is there anything that is in your life that is creating even the slightest degree of separation from God? Romans 2:29 speaks about “circumcision of the heart.” Are there any “bitter roots” in your heart that need to be cut out? Hebrews 12:15

The thing about circumcision is that it is a painful process, but the sooner it’s done, the less it hurts. It might not be a pleasant process but our salvation, our eternity depends on it. If you are unsure what to do but you know that something is “off” in your relationship with God, or with your faith walk, call out to Him for guidance. He is faithful, loving, just and kind. He will help you identify the problem and guide you to the solution. I pray for you to have the courage to not turn away from this albeit cringe worthy process, but to face it and heal quickly. Stay aware, stay alert and as always… stay encouraged!