This might hurt a little

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.” Romans 2:25 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “This might hurt a little”

I want to give you fair warning before I proceed with these next couple of devotionals – I am going to be writing about a delicate and somewhat painful procedure that is performed on one of the most vulnerable parts of the male body. And if you’re squeamish or prudish you might want to skip these devotionals altogether. I’m going to talk about circumcision.

Awkward. An uncomfortable subject. And talk about painful – yikes!

Just kidding. I’m just messing with you. I’m going to be talking about circumcision of the heart not that other body part, and it’s a spiritual circumcision not the physical kind. Now, it can still be awkward and uncomfortable to talk about, and it can still be very painful – just in a different way. We will be thinking about circumcision of the heart, but the illustration is based on the physical circumcision of that other body part.

God first instituted physical circumcision in Genesis 17:10-14 for the Jewish people as a sign of the covenant that God was making with them. Here’s what He said: “This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you are to keep: Every one of your males must be circumcised. You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you. Throughout your generations, every male among you is to be circumcised at eight days old – every male born in your household or purchased from any foreigner and not your offspring. Whether born in your household or purchased, he must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as a permanent covenant. If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

So, the physical act of circumcision had a spiritual meaning. The physical cutting away of the foreskin was to be a symbol of a spiritual reality, and a reminder of a covenant God had established with the Jews that He would be their God, and they would be His people. It was intended to be a physical reminder of a spiritual reality. True circumcision is spiritual not physical, and it is done to the heart, not to that other body part.

But it can still be very painful because it involves cutting out of our lives anything that does not honor God. In the days to come, we will see what Paul means by this. For today, I encourage all of us to spend some time quietly before God and let the Holy Spirit show us if there are things in our lives that need to be cut out.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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