Spiritual Matters of the Heart

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Defined
The Heart of the Law

Romans 2:25-29

The Message

 ^25-29Circumcision, the surgical ritual that marks you as a Jew, is great if you live in accord with God's law. But if you don't, it's worse than not being circumcised. The reverse is also true: The uncircumcised who keep God's ways are as good as the circumcised—in fact, better. Better to keep God's law uncircumcised than break it circumcised. Don't you see: It's not the cut of a knife that makes a Jew. You become a Jew by who you are. It's the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin, that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics. 

For Reflection 

It is not your birth-right that makes you one of God's children.  It is not your declaration of Christianity that makes you a child of God.  What makes you a child of God is obedience to His will.  It is the fact that you have opened your heart to the Holy Spirit.  Don't be concerned about the critics who use God's name to demean your participation in the Kingdom of God.  Just pray and listen to God's direction.  God recognizes your obedient good work.

 Pray

that you will be obedient to God's will for you.  Pray that you will listen to the words of the world with God's ear. Pray that you will listen to the words of scripture and  to God's whispered wisdom.