When the Israelites were entering into the Promised Land, it was occupied by people who did not know the Lord. They were surrounded by pagan nations and cultures. How would God mark His people from those who are not His? God marked them by the act of circumcision. God gave instructions that His people were to be circumcised.
Circumcision was an outward sign which demonstrated inward obedience to the one true God. It may seem just a physical act but by circumcising themselves, they are setting themselves apart for God. They would be a holy people. Through the Bible, circumcising is a metaphor for holiness. Moses said that he had uncircumcised lips (Exodus 6:12, KJV). Jeremiah talked about uncircumcised ears which were not fit to hear God’s Word (Jer 6:10).
When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, they were to consider the fruits of the land as uncircumcised for three years, but in the fourth year, the fruits will be holy, an offering to the Lord (Lev 19:24).
Just as Jeremiah has called the people to circumcise themselves to God, they were to circumcise their hearts (Jer 4:4). The heart is the well spring of life (Proverbs 4:23). It is the source of our life. From our hearts flow everything we think, say, do and act. Our heart reflects our spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional state. Circumcising our hearts means we are to open our hearts and follow God by forsaking our old ways of living. We choose to follow God.
In the Bible, God’s people were marked by circumcision. Today, God’s people are marked by the circumcising of our hearts. Are we giving ourselves to Christ? Are we walking in holiness? Our God is holy and He desires His people to be holy too.
What does holiness mean? The world makes fun of holy people by associating “holiness” with a halo on the head and wings on the back of a person or it is a term jokingly used to refer to hermit people living in the mountains and detached from the world.
We can still have fun and live comfortably when we are holy. Holiness means living a life that represents Jesus Christ. We no longer say words or do things that harm our bodies and minds or those around us. We carefully guard our attitudes, thoughts and actions. We think of these things: whatever * is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8, NIV). Walking in holiness means we disagree with evil and sinful behaviours and choose not to participate in them.
Walking in holiness is a leap of faith too. We may be ridiculed or rejected for being “holy”. This brings us to the question: who will you serve? Will it be “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).