Today's Passage: Colossians 2: 8-12

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 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. 

Today's Prayer: 

Father, the language of being taken captive is unsettling.

Holy spirit, we ask that you would make us a discerning people. We choose against human wisdom in favor of spiritual wisdom and understanding and we pray  the truth of Proverbs 9:10 over our lives today, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Holy Spirit, in the same way we asked you to illumine our hearts to the ways we’ve been deceived through persuasive arguments, we come to you again today and ask that you show us where we’ve been taken captive through the philosophy and deception of our time and generation. You have made us a particular kind of. You tell us in 1 Peter that we are…

9 …A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Chosen. Royal. Priests. Holy. Your possession for the purpose of proclamation. We can scarcely wrap our minds around it but It is the truest true!

Oh God, life East of Eden threatens to conform us to its patterns, but we choose to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might prove what is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2). 

Our hearts thrill to read of how You have made us complete. We take our place under your headship and authority. On this day, we choose again to put off our flesh and walk as Spirit-people. Again we make our confession that we have been buried with You in baptism, and raised by God in faith. 

Our new identity is firm. Our future not up for discussion and secure in You. Move in power in and through us today. 

In the strong name of Jesus we prayer…Amen.

NOTES & LINKS:

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