Circumcision...

"So circumcise your heart and stiffen your neck no longer."--Deuteronomy 10:16.  Moses, using the language of circumcision to make the point of how committed Israel needs to be to the Lord.  Circumcision is not only to be of the flesh but also of the heart.

Circumcision.  As most of us probably know every Jewish child had to be circumcised when he was eight days old.  In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign that you were one of God's chosen people.  But being that one was one of God's chosen people, this meant that you were held that much more accountable to His commands.  Here Moses reminds them of this fact so they must no longer be stiff necked and not only circumcise their flesh but circumcise their heart.

Circumcision.  While circumcision was a part of the Law of Moses, the command to be circumcised was first given to Abraham in Genesis 17:10-14.  Circumcision was a work of faith.  When you followed the command, you did so believing God would justify you.  But while physical circumcision was required, circumcision also had to occur in the heart and we see this described in the New Testament.

Circumcision.  Circumcision of course is defined as the cutting away of the skin.  Of course in the New Testament, we know that physical circumcision is no longer required per Acts 15:1-35 and Galatians 2:1-21.  But we can see from Deuteronomy 10:16 and other New Testament passages such as Colossians 2:11-15.  We know from Colossians 2:11-12 that circumcision of a different sort is required and that circumcision or cutting away of the flesh e.g. sinful nature occurs by being baptized into Christ.  This of course is circumcision of the heart as Moses alludes to in Deuteronomy 10:16.

Circumcision.  In Deuteronomy 10:16, as has been mentioned, Moses not only tells the people to circumcise their heart but also to no longer stiffen their neck meaning to follow the commands of God. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:19 that neither physical circumcision nor physical uncircumcision in nothing but what matters is following the commands of God.  However, the command to be circumcised in heart still stands and how we are circumcised in heart is described in Colossians 2:11-15.  But again the buck does not stop there, what matters is following the commands of God which means following the commands of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We know from Matthew 28:18-20 that we are not only to make disciples by baptizing but also by teaching them to obey everything that Jesus commanded.

So my encouragement to you is this.  We know from Scripture that circumcision of heart occurs at baptism but also we know that what truly matters is following the commands of God.  So if you still need to be "circumcised" meaning baptized for the forgiveness of sins then do not delay but if you have done so and have not been following God's commands, the time is now to get back on track.  Therefore, in the words of Moses, circumcise your heart and stiffen your neck no longer.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! PRAY ABOUT IT! LOVE Y'ALL! GOD BLESS!