April 20 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the beginning of a new life for all believers. It's also the pledge of our resurrection (1 Cor. 15). The study of Colossians is part of this month's meditations on the meaning of the resurrection.

Bible Reading:

Colossians 2:9–12

Bible Text:

In him also you were circumcised ... by putting off the body of the flesh ... when you were buried with him in baptism (Col. 2:11–12, NRSV).

Devotional:

In Jesus Christ we have all we need for body and soul, for time and eternity. We don't need any extras.

Some religious teachers taught that the Colossians should be circumcised. But Paul told them Christ is sufficient also in that respect. In Christ "you were circumcised."

In the Old Testament, circumcision, in which a small piece of flesh was cut off, was symbolic of a much deeper change. What really counted was the circumcision of the heart (Deut. 10:16; 30:6). A real Jew "is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart" (Rom. 2:29).

If circumcision symbolizes the death of the old self and the renewal of life, all Christians have been circumcised. With Jesus Christ we died to the old and arose in newness of life. We laid off "the body of the flesh," or the "old self." Then, by faith, we were raised to a new life.

We who have been baptized into Christ must not permit our sinful desires to assert themselves. Say to yourself, "I died with Christ." Say it by faith. Think of your baptism. Remind yourself, "My baptism was my incorporation into Christ."

In Christ we have all we need for body and soul, for time and eternity.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.