Circumcision without hands - Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Isa 16-18
CIRCUMCISION WITHOUT HANDS Friday, August 6, 2010
MEMORIZE: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14) READ: Galatians 6:11-15 Another obligation of the one God has chosen is circumcision. In Genesis 17:9-11, God instructed Abraham to circumcise every male child in his family as part of the covenant between them. After Paul was chosen on his way to Damascus in Acts 22:13-15, he said he too had to undergo circumcision (Phil. 3:1-12). There is physical and spiritual circumcision. Today, physical circumcision is of great value to man biologically. But spiritual circumcision is of greater benefit to the believer. “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Col. 2:11) The spiritual circumcision is called circumcision of Christ. And this is done not by physical hands but by divine hands. It entails trimming down and it is a very painful experience. For everyone who has been washed in the blood of Jesus to be counted part of the spiritual family of Abraham, that fellow must undergo spiritual circumcision. Heaven attaches more value to this type of circumcision than to the physical type. Spiritual circumcision entails a separation between you and the sinful things you loved doing while still in sin. According to today’s passage, while physical circumcision makes you to boast in the flesh, spiritual circumcision denies the flesh anything to be proud of. When you boast of your academic certificates, position, fame, power, and other achievements, it is because you have not been circumcised. When you are circumcised, all these would mean nothing to you. And like Paul, you will be able to give them up for the knowledge of the One who died for you. If you are ashamed to be identified with the Christian faith, you have not experienced spiritual circumcision. Circumcision is getting to a point in your walk with God that you readily suffer persecution for Him and take it joyfully. Circumcision brings pain to the circumcised. Unlike physical circumcision which pain can be for a few days, spiritual circumcision can give the circumcised prolonged pain. How much pain you can take for God’s Kingdom determines the extent of your circumcision. If you cannot sacrifice or give sacrificial offerings to move God’s Kingdom forward, it is doubtful if you have experienced spiritual circumcision. Go to God today for this experience. ACTION POINT: A professing believer who cannot take insults or abuses from superiors or subordinates is not yet circumcised.