Scripture to Read: Colossians 2:20a
As followers of Christ, we must be continually reminded of what happened in our lives when we surrendered to Christ as our Lord and Savior. God had Paul write this in Colossians 2:20a, “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world…” This may sound like a question, but it’s a question with an obvious answer. A better way to look at this is to say, “since you have died with Christ…” because that is true. God had Paul write it this way in Romans 6:5–7, “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, so that our body of sin might be done away with (rendered powerless), so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.” We must be ever mindful that we surrendered to Christ, we died to our old self, and Christ set us free from the spiritual forces of this world. The “elementary principles of the world” are the spiritual forces of wickedness and darkness in this world (Ephesians 6:12). We can overcome them and live in victory over them as we put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18), which God has fully supplied to us through His Word and His Holy Spirit in us. When we fully realize all that we have in and through Christ and His Word, our victories become numerous.
Challenge & Application
It seems too many Christians live defeated lives instead of victorious lives; so, in light of today’s devotion, why is that?
What all has God given us to make sure we are walking in victory every day?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!