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

What God Requires

"Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?... You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen." -Deuteronomy 10.12-13, 20-21

God has requirements of His people. That they fear Him, walk in His ways, love and serve Him, and obey His standards and commands. In short, God requires total allegiance and obedience from those who follow Him, and the result is the good of those people. God alone is to be feared. He is who they shall serve and cling to. He is the reason they have to praise and rejoice because of who He is and the great things He has done for them. God requires the hearts of His people.

The thing with God, He is not a tyrant or a dictator. He does not demand that force all people to follow Him, and obey Him. He puts the offer out there, wanting people to count the cost and consider what is involved. He forces no one to follow Him, but when someone does decide, freely, to follow Him, He requires absolute allegiance. But He returns this allegiance with His presence, and blessings of goodness.

Men, are you willing to submit to God? Are you willing to fear Him, walk in all His ways, and love Him? Are you willing to serve Him with all that you are? God will not force you to follow Him, although one day every knee will bow before Him and give Him the worship that He must receive (Philippians 2). Are you willing to submit to God and receive the goodness He has for your life?

Let us do all that God requires, and in that let us be solely devoted to Him. Let us live in His presence, and serve Him fully.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor