Don’t forget that you
Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the
Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their
bodies and not their hearts (Ephesians 2:11 NLT).
How extremely sad a scenario this verse reveals. The Jews were the chosen people of God. They were the ones who had received
revelation upon revelation, prophecies, miracles, supernatural guidance, and
had been called by God as His chosen people.
Yet upon close inspection, we find that their thinking was flawed. Circumcision
was only to be a symbol of their connection to God. It is easy to look in hindsight and see that the
symbol of circumcision had become their idol of identity and that they had failed
miserably to connect to the heart of the Creator who had told them from the
beginning that He was the God of the whole world, not just the nation of
Israel. Had they been submitted to God
in their hearts when they submitted to Him in their flesh, they would have had
the same burning burden to bring the Gentiles into relationship with the God
who loved them rather than looking down their noses at them.
Before we are too quick to judge the Pharisees and other
religious leaders to whom Paul is pointing, we should take a real hard look at
ourselves and the church today. We are
the chosen of Christ and we can look on at the fact that we were baptized as
being our connection to God. Yet, it is
the same as circumcision in that baptism is simply the outward expression of an
inward event called salvation. Do we,
who have been baptized, now look on at the world around us and instead of
“uncircumcised heathens,” we call them “unbelieving heathens.” It begs the question, “Is there any real
difference in our attitudes towards the lost?”
Or are we as guilty as the original religious leaders who touted a pride
in their connection to God through the outward symbol rather than demonstrating
true humility because of the inward connection to God that affects the entire
heart, soul, and mind?
This area of Scripture calls for a total heart check. The next time I find myself looking at people
around me in distain because they are drunk, using fowl language, or doing any
of the myriad of things that the world does (and I used to do), I need to
remember that these are the very people for whom Christ died. They are not unbelieveing heathens; they are
lost sheep that need a Savior.
Lord, help me remember that I used to be them and was an
outsider. Give me a chance today to offer someone who is lost and needs You the
opportunity to come inside and know You.
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