Scripture Focus: Genesis 17:9 to 11; Philippians 3:3
Circumcision was more than a physical act. It was a picture of cutting off confidence in the flesh. Abraham had lived with Ishmael, the result of human effort, for years. But now, God was calling him to something higher. The old had to be removed for the new to come.
This is the key difference between the old and the new. That which is born of the flesh cannot inherit the promise of the Spirit. We too are called to circumcise our hearts, to let go of dependence on self, and to trust fully in God. True faith is not found in what we can do but in surrendering to what only God can do.
Prayer:
Father, help me to put no confidence in my own strength. Teach me to trust in You alone and to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. Amen.
Further Reading:
John 3:6; Romans 8:5 to 8; Galatians 5:16.