Circumcision of the Heart

Sooo today as I was driving to BIM (to teach Baltimore City kids), I got a revelation about CIRCUMCISION o.O

Awhile ago I read in Exodus 4 about God almost killing Moses because he wasn't circumcised. Here Moses was, on his way to Egypt obeying God, and then all the sudden God wants to kill him because he wasn't circumcised. Thankfully Moses wife Zipporah takes a knife and circumcises his son and they are saved.

This passage confused me a little. Why would God do that?? but I was like whatever...and moved on.

Couple months ago I received an interesting phone call. And the woman who was talking to me told me she was confused about this passage as well. And we were both like hmm....but then forgot about it.

Why is circumcision so important to God?? I mean why is the cutting off of the fleshy part of a man's private parts so important?

And then I was like oh.....CUTTING OFF THE FLESH. i get it!

"The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."

-Deuteronomy 30:6

I've been praying to God for him to help me love him with all my heart and soul. That is the greatest commandment after all so I might as well get that right.

But it can be so hard because we can't tangibly feel him or see him or even hear him. I have a hard time loving my own family how can I love God?

In order to love God, we must first understand how he loves us and also be baptized with the SPIRIT. Think about it the Spirit and God has been together for eternity. The Spirit loves God very very much.

We understand when we receive Jesus Christ we are receiving his Spirit. But then we are walking around with his Spirit with us and nothing is happening...

Our lives are not fruitful.

1) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control - Galatians 5:22-23

2) Testifying to how good Jesus is/ spreading the word and having it multiply

Our Spiritual lives are always wavering. We go on spiritual highs and lows/ dryness. We still struggle with sin/ fleshy desires/ worldly things. Making us quite unfruitful.

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do - Galatians 5:17

What we want is to please God and follow his will. But we can't do that because our SPIRITS are ONE with our FLESH. and not God's Spirit.

we need to CUT OFF our spirit from our flesh. and make our spirit ONE with God's Spirit.

How...?

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will - Romans 12:2

I had no clue actually. I guess by not conforming to the patterns of this world. But I need help with that too. 

When in doubt. Always pray.

So I just started crying out to God. MAKE ME ONE WITH YOUR SPIRIT. CUT OFF MY FLESH. CIRCUMCISE MY HEART.

And God was like of course duhhh I will do that, I've been waiting for you to ask me. But do you understand what your asking for?

PAIN and SUFFERING.

cutting of the flesh. is not an easy thing. it's a very painful process. I mean back then they couldn't walk for like days...And the longer you have your flesh the more it'll hurt.

So let's see I've been with my flesh for almost 21 years of my life? that's 21 years of the world bombardation with wrong information always shown by the media. Negative images is the main criteria. Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria.. that I need to cut off.

It's going to be so painful.

But is it worth it?

This is what Jesus says. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." (Matthew 13:44)

Jeanie asked me a question 2 weeks ago. She said if you could go to heaven and ask Jesus one question, any question. What would it be.

I thought about it hard for like 2 min and I came up with my question.

"Was it worth it?"

And hopefully Jesus would say yes. and then I would break down in tears and cry and it would be an epic moment.

But it would suck if he said. Nah girl if I had to do it all over again, I would have a nice simple life as a carpenter.

Jesus suffered for us willingly. We all know that, but the question is should we also suffer too? I mean if he took AWAY our suffering and pain for us. We shouldn't have to suffer right? (That used to be my excuse for the longest time)

Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory - Romans 8:17

No matter how much I want to avoid suffering. in this WORLD it's unavoidable. Jesus took away our eternal punishment, but as long as we are still here in this world we must suffer.

But when we suffer (by giving up everything) we "suffer" WITH JOY. because we know that it'll be worth it.

It's worth breaking up your relationship. It's worth giving up food and sleep. It's worth giving up alcohol and cigarettes. It's worth hiding your laptop so you won't watch porn. It's worth giving up those TV shows to read books about God. It's worth giving up grad school or getting your PH.D. It's worth not joining a sorority. It's worth being a missionary or a pastor. It's worth forgiving someone who hurt you.

Turning away from the flesh and following the Spirit is worth being with God forever in the kingdom of heaven.

And the more you become united with the Spirit. After you overcome your struggles.

You will have INCREASE. increase in wisdom, joy, peace, hope, love. the riches of heaven. INCREASE!!

And if God ever needs to humble you from all the wisdom and revelations. He sends you to teach children. Who don't care at all how pumped up you are about God and everything you know. They are so honest and blunt with you if your class is boring. And trying to command a group of elementary school kids will always remind you how much you need to depend on him.   

Amen.

Let's get our hearts circumcised.