Pruning - Colossians - Part 14

The circumcision of the anointing has blotted out our transgressions.

"In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." - Colossians 2:11-14 ESV

This is amazing imagery.

Salvation removes something from us in order to give us something in a different category.

People want to grow and have things added but maturation often involves the removal of things... pruning. People see this principle and they try to do the pruning but when they do they just mutilate. People need the circumcision of the anointed One. He removes what needs to be removed and adds by grace what needs to be added.

"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." - Colossians 2:15 ESV

Jesus died but then He rose. He suffered loss but then the victory lifted Him into the sky and He was promoted to the highest place a man can go. He sits, as a man, on the right hand of the Father's throne. He shamed the powers that killed Him and He cast off the hands that would seek to keep His feet on the ground.

Now God says He sees us seated in His Son.

God prunes us and nails what was keeping us down to His cross so that we can live in the Heavenly realm. We might look at ourselves and say, 'Why would you want me? Something is missing from me.' but God has taken away what needed to be taken away so that we could grow into the fullness of who He made us to be.

Don't buy into the empowerment lie. God removes first. Then He adds a victory that has already been won.

Thank You Lord. We have a great salvation. Thank you for removing shame. Thank You for nailing the debt that enslaved us to the cross. Thank You for placing us in Jesus' victory. Please help us navigate the complexities of our day to day lives as people that have your life coursing through our veins. Give us silver tongues and redemptive words. Thank You Lord.

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