BY REV. DORAL PULLEY, Today’s Church Tampa Bay
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” – Galatians 4:4
Thought for the Week: I let go of all that is old, worn, unproductive and that which no longer serves me well.
Whether you get a paper cut or have a major surgery, physical cutting does not feel good. Mental and emotional cutting is even more challenging. It is not always easy for you to let go of thought patterns and belief systems that do not serve you because they have been a part of your life for years. Letting go requires your continual growth and maturity. Releasing people, places and things that you have become attached to and connected to your identity is no easy task.
Jesus was a Jew and his family followed the Jewish laws and traditions. Circumcision, the cutting away of the foreskin, was a major Jewish ritual. They believed that the physical act of circumcision symbolized their spiritual connection to the promises that God made to Abraham (Genesis 17:1-14). Every Jewish boy was circumcised at 8 days old (Luke 2:21-24). The idea was that after a week, the child was strong enough to handle the cutting without it being a traumatic experience.
Regardless of your gender or age, God is calling you to perform spiritual circumcision on a regular basis. “It is circumcision of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (Romans 2:29).” Daily cut away that which no longer serves you in your health, prosperity, and harmonious relationships. As you keep your spirit free, conscience clear and heart pure, you show others the way to do the same for themselves.
Reflection Questions: What areas of your life require circumcision to allow you to connect more deeply to God? What has prevented you from previously cutting them away?
Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Today’s Church Tampa Bay, 940 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg (Staybridge Suites) and 5107 North Central Ave., Tampa.
