August 21, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Whether born in your household or bought with your money, every male must be circumcised. My covenant in your “flesh” is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (Genesis 17.13-14)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

As we discussed yesterday, the “sign” of circumcision was important to the people of Israel because it set them apart. It set them apart not because they were the only people who practiced circumcision; they were not. But the other nations, cultures and tribes did so for ritual purity in service as priests or soldiers. Some saw it as a punishment that brought indignity upon them because they would be seen as unnatural. In some regards, there is a sense of this in those who used the practice to set apart those as soldiers or priests and made them “unfit” for regular life in the everyday world. Why was this different for Abraham and all the males born or bought by him to be a part of his clan? It was different because it was a command from God for the whole of the nation and not just a limited few. Thus, all the males were in service to “God and country” abiding by God’s command and call to be a testimony to the rest of the world. Even today, we see how Israel is in full view of all the world and thus in the center of what is truly going on in the world. While there are many conflicts ongoing in today’s world, none create the angst that a Middle Eastern conflict can. None have dominated the world scene as any associated with Israel and her people. It isn’t about arrogance. It is about the central truth and simple fact that Almighty God is their God and there shall be no other gods before them. Of course, the history of Israel is strewn with those who violated the covenant, hypocritically, by being circumcised in the flesh but not being circumcised in their heart and soul. To be circumcised in their heart and soul meant to surrender their thoughts, intentions and future to the will of Sovereign God. How that happens in the modern world in the Age of the Church is the act of baptism as the sign of commitment to honor God and live for Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. While baptism is an outward sign of an inner transformation few would know of the time of your baptism as it leaves no mark but the glory of God shining through your spirit. Your testimony and commitment to make of all nations disciples and followers of Jesus Christ are the works of righteousness. They build up the future generations of believers to be as numerous as the stars in the heavens and the grains of sand by the shore. We each share in the legacy of Abraham who believed by faith and took the mark commanded by God.

Those who turn away from their baptism and rebuke the Holy Spirit seek to undo the blessing just as those who in Abraham’s day refused to be circumcised. God did not remove the blessing nor the opportunity to be blessed. Instead it was the men themselves to refused the blessing and cast it aside as worthless and meaningless. Their decision impacted not only themselves but their own families as if they chose to bring a curse upon them all. God have mercy on those who refused the blessing but it will be His righteous justice at work.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.