"On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." -Leviticus 12.3
The heading for chapter 12 is "Laws of Motherhood", and at first glance I said out loud, "Oh great". But then I got down to verse 3, circumcision. Under Old Testament Law every male of the nation of Israel would be physically circumcised eight days after his birth. It was an outward sign that physically distinguished Israel from every other nation. Something was cut away and marked them as part of God's chosen people.
But since we're on the theme of holiness we need more than external circumcision. In the book of Acts there was a church council that met to decide if Gentiles needed to become Jewish in order to be Christians. Was the outward mark essential for election into the Kingdom? Later in the Bible Paul writes, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God" (Romans 2.28-29).
Men, what really matters is a circumcised heart. Have we been inwardly marked as God's people by the Holy Spirit? Have we allowed that calloused part of our hearts, the side that desires to live for self, focused on power and pleasure, to be cut away? Do we live for the praise from God or for the approval of man? Are you circumcised inwardly or simply outwardly?
Let us pursue holiness above all else. May we be men of circumcised hearts.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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