Circumcised Heart or Stiff Neck

"So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer." -Deuteronomy 10.16

Israel already had circumcision, the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, and an outward sign that set them apart from the rest of the world as God's people. But here Moses tells them to circumcise their hearts. They were not simply to be set apart by a physical sign, but by a changing of their character. They were to live differently than all the peoples of the earth. They were to be transformed and set apart in the core of their being, living differently as God's people. They were to live according to His statues of holiness, not simply have a physical mark on their bodies.

Moses also tells them to stiffen their necks no longer. They were not to be a stubborn and obstinate people. In the past they had refused to follow God. They had repeatedly decided to go their own way, do what they wanted, and all the time talked about going back to Egypt. They did not want to be led by God, and so they have been called a stiff necked people. They don't want to be controlled, they want to do their own thing. Moses tells them to no longer be stubborn, and bent on their own way, but instead to submit to God.

Men, is your heart circumcised? Have you been transformed the the Holy Spirit and set apart for God's use? Or is your neck stiff? Are you determined to do things your way and pursue your goals? You cannot have a circumcised heart and a stiff neck. You will either be set apart for God or fixed on your own desires. The choice is yours.

If we allow God to circumcise our hearts we are refusing to stiffen our necks. If we choose to be set apart for God we are denying our desires, and yielding to His plan. These are the only two options we have in life, a circumcised heart or a stiff neck. One allows God to work freely. It invites His presence into our lives, and along with that His blessings. The other refuses His help because it refuses to submit. One surrenders control, the other clings to it desperately.

Let us be people of circumcised hearts. Let us choose to submit to God and be led by Him.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor