Scripture: 1st Corinthians 7:18-19
Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.
Thought for the Day: Can I confess something? I laugh each time I come across this passage. I’m so glad Paul gave those already circumcised permission to not try to reverse it… especially back in the First Century. Plastic surgery was not very good back then. So much of Paul’s teaching is about not going backwards – what’s done is done. And for those circumcised, Paul does not want them to think about it anymore. Instead, he wants them to obey the commandments of God. Of course, some would have argued with Paul and said that circumcision was one of the commands of God, but for Paul there is a new commandment: to love the Lord your God and love your neighbor. Don’t allow people to back you into a corner on some fringe issue of faith. Instead, just tell them: “I am a Great Commandment person.”
Prayer: Keep me seeking ways to better love you, O Gracious Father, and to love my neighbor as was defined by the parable of the Good Samaritan. Amen.
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