September 23, 2021

OUTWARD VERSUS INWARD

Romans 2:28-29

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Personal Challenge

Our Lord Jesus Christ had to confront the zealots of His day. These were not people outside of the Jewish nation telling them what to do, but within the body pushing for their perception of the perfect Jew. Many practiced this zealous beliefs as Pharisees and Sadducees. He called them whitewashed tombs because their practices on the outside looked all pristine and perfect, but their hearts were empty and dark. Paul picked this up in this letter to the Romans challenging the Judaizers for loving their faith with outward appearances and traditions but not being followers of God in their hearts. We are seeing similar zealots in the church today. People who believe and purport that we must return to some form of ritual practices and traditions that they call the true, historical church. Defined by whom? Practiced by whom? It is a zealous belief that has no problem trampling on the others around them who disagree. Where is the love of Christ? Where is the love for our neighbor? This love does not come in forcing others into doing what we want to do. It is not in the rhetoric of anger and arrogance that defends your perspective, our personal interpretations. It must be in our hearts and lovingly driving us to come alongside those who are different than us. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!