IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.”

“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”

Romans 2:25-29

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

I’ve got a confession to make.

I don’t have a tattoo. Not one.

I served in the United States Navy for twenty eight and a half years and it seemed like the en vogue thing to do was to have a tattoo…and this is before everybody decided to get them. But I never did it. I saw my shipmates doing it but I never wanted to do it myself.

What makes this worse is that I have developed a dislike for the prevalence of tattoos on people. They have gone from a person just having one that was obscure and hidden to having them all over the body. Some have more tattoos on their body than skin that is unblemished. For me, it’s hard to look at.

But I’m glad that I am a man of the Lord and invested in His holy Word. Because when I do read the scriptures, I find passages that help me in processing through my feelings and views on the things of the world. Today, I am blessed with one such excerpt from the closing verses of Romans 2, one that helps me get by the tattoo issue because these words written by the Apostle Paul to the people in Rome carry one important message:

It’s not about what’s on the outside.

Look again at these verses again here:

“Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.”

“A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” Romans 2:25-29

Throughout chapter 2, we find Paul talking about the righteous judgment of God and how it can fall on anyone who lives sinfully in His sight. This applied equally to the Jew and the Gentile (anyone not a Jew).

In regard to the latter, one of the main ways you could tell a Jewish male from a Gentile male was through examining their bodies externally, particularly in the genital area. In accordance with the Law, Jewish men would be circumcised as a sign of the Old Testament covenant between God and the Israelite people. Of course, this would mean that Gentile men would be uncircumcised.

But note that this outward differential was only a physical one. In other words, you can’t believe everything your eyes tell you.

If a circumcised Jew sinned against God, the circumcision lost its meaning and value. The Jew would be just as bad as the Gentiles they thought were unholy and godless. By breaking the Law, they had made themselves as if they weren’t circumcised at all.

You see, God cares most about who we are on the inside. It’s not about what’s on the outside.

Paul goes onto talk about the Gentiles as well. For if an uncircumcised Gentile man, keeps the Law that the Jewish man broke, then the uncircumcised man becomes as if he was circumcised which means that he stood in good favor with God through living in righteousness.

Again, God would find delight with the Gentile through the way his heart and mind were obedient to God’s will and way. He cares most about what’s on the inside because it’s not about what’s on the outside.

In the end translation, the state of one’s heart will show either their allegiance or opposition to the Lord, not a tattoo or any other outward appearance.

Show that you’re led by the Holy Spirit through the way you live, displaying righteousness as you are obedient to the will of the Lord, and you will receive the praise and blessing of God.

Choose to live otherwise, committing yourself to the world’s ways or the selfish desires of your own heart, and you can expect to receive God’s punishment and judgment.

When He looks inside of you, which person does He see?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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