See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭8‬
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

What are the human traditions of collective thought-wisdom we see prevalent today? Here are a few I find: 1) A family is what you define it as, 2) Information is king, 3) Be you best self (all on your own), 4) No Bad Days, 5) Everything can be good, 6) Order and authority in life are “old school”, 7) Do what makes you feel good, 8) Remove pain, live pain free, pain is bad, 9) People should reinforce what makes you feel good.

These all seem to sound good, but at the core … they are selfish. They are also hollow and in the end don’t work out. God designed us to be in relationship with him and rely on him for wisdom, strength, growth, and power and ability to live a life beyond ourselves.

Jesus called this approach out, in John 15, with the vine and the branches analogy. I cannot function in the goodness of God without a relationship with him. He is my source for good living. The philosophies of this world — those that try to steer me away from the truth in God’s Word or attach to it — they poison the truth. They are empty and lead to destructive thoughts and behaviors that lead to death.

So instead of following the world and its ways, I follow Jesus. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life! And when we first decide to do this, we experience the fullness of his Spirit taking control and steering our lives.

Circumcision was a way that God marked his people as his own. They were consecrated for him. In the same way, our hearts have been marked and reserved for Jesus, when we decided to follow him. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬)

So l will recognize my ownership and marking today. I am God’s, through and through. His Son bought redemption for my soul with his life — a blood price. And I will live out my allegiance to him, for he is faithful above all men!

Lord, thank you for your truth which fills me with life and propels me to good deeds you already have set up in advance for me to do. You also give me the energy, skills and words to accomplish these deeds. So I am “reporting in” today, Lord Jesus — ready for your work assignments.