Circumcise Your Hearts!

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Friday, March 06, 2009
Devotions: Ps 40, 51, 54, 95; Deut 10:12-22; Heb 5:1-10; Jn 4:1-26

God has rescued me and put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God! Blessed are all who make YHWH their trust—who avoid entanglements with the proud and or with idols. God’s goodness is beyond our telling! Lord, thank You for giving me an open ear and open heart; I delight to do Your will and receive Your favor! I will tell of Your goodness to any who will listen; I will magnify Your steadfast love and faithfulness! I have been buried in my sins, but You have raised me from death and lifted me to Yourself. Let my enemies be turned away, and may all who seek You rejoice! Great is our Lord.

Merciful God, I know my transgressions; every sin is an offense against You. So purge me inwardly; make me clean again, dear Father; fill me with Your joy and gladness; let my broken bones and aching heart rejoice; blot out my sins, O God! Create in me a clean heart and an upright spirit. Restore to me the joy of my salvation, as I sing aloud of Your deliverance. Open my lips so my mouth pours forth Your praise; I give You my broken and contrite heart and spirit, Lord. Bless me, I pray! Vindicate me by Your might; I triumph by the mercies of God! Let us make joyful songs to our Redeemer; YHWH is the great God, King above all spirits, Maker and Master of everything! He holds the universe; He is holy. Let us kneel before Him and worship; He is our Shepherd, and we are His flock. Soften our hearts, Lord, and let us live obediently in Your favor; bring us to Your rest, great God!

Moses teaches Israel: ‘What YHWH your God requires of you is to walk in His ways, to love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul. Keep His commands. He owns heavens and earth; yet He has chosen you to be His special treasure. Therefore, circumcise your hearts and stop your stubbornness. God loves the weak and outcast; so should you love the sojourner and stranger. Fear YHWH and cleave to Him. He is your Praise, your God Who has done awesome things for you! Even in slavery, He has multiplied and prospered You, and now He is setting you free!’

Let us strive to enter God’s rest—this comes by faith and obedience. God’s word is living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword; it penetrates to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. Everything is laid bare to the judgment of our living God. Let us hold fast to our confession, for we are under the ministry of Jesus, our great High Priest—Who faced the same temptations as ours, yet was sinless! Therefore, let us draw near to God with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to sustain us in times of need!

For a time, both Jesus and John were baptizing—Jesus in Judea and John at Aenon, near Salim. A debate about purification arose between an observant Jew and some of John’s disciples. They brought their debate to John: ‘Sir, that man you baptized and to whom you bore witness is now baptizing in Judea—and increasingly, people are going to him rather than coming to you!’ John answered: ‘The fruit of our work comes from God. You heard me testify: I am not the messiah; I am His forerunner. The One Who has the bride is the Bridegroom; those who are His friends rejoice greatly in His voice and His presence. Because He has come, my joy is full. He must increase, but I must decrease.’