Cutting Away

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In the Old Testament when the people crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land one of the first things that had to happen was all of the men had to be circumcised. Circumcision was a symbol of their covenant with God and it also symbolized a cutting away, leaving the past behind, as they prepared to enter into what God had for them. 

Colossians 2:11 tells us, "In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands."

Romans 2:29 says, "No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God."

Deuteronomy 30:6 says The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

We have a circumcision of the heart that happens in Christ, and it's meant to help us put off our old ways and step into a new way of living. 

When a new baby is born there is also a cutting away that happens in the cutting of the umbilical cord. When the cord is cut an amazing thing happens... The babies heart is forever changed. Prior to being born the mother supplies all of the oxygen to the baby in her blood. While the baby is in the womb the blood goes directly from the right side of the heart to the left side through an opening. But when the baby takes its first breath and the cord is cut there is a dividing wall in the heart that closes, so that the blood goes from the right side of the heart to the lungs to be oxygenated and then to the left side. The heart changes forever when the cutting away happens. 

Today's communion is a time of gratitude that our hearts have been circumcised in Christ which changes our hearts forever. 

Today's Workout/Health Tip

When we talk about cutting away with workouts, I think of keeping it simple. It's easy to get lured into a bunch of things that don't make much difference. Here are three good things I have found to focus on...

1. Improve your ability to move your own bodyweight with basics like squats, pushups, pullups, situps
2. Improve your ability to lift more weight per pound of body weight in main exercises like presses, deadlifts, cleans, etc.
3. Improve your ability to move like a kid. Get more mobile and flexible while being able to run, jump, throw, and play over and over again. 

I am praying for you.

Daniel

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