Gods Sabbath

C IRCUMCISION

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ing to God’s word, those who are unable to enter into the bless ed Sabbath rest experience, are those in whom resides an evil heart of unbelief (see Hebrews 3:12–19). In order to know God’s rest we must believe that the Almighty has the power to fulfill His promises—that He is able to put life where there is only death. We can attain to the circumcision of the heart only if we let God become our Plan Maker in the place of ourselves. When we are ready to turn from our own works and let God plan for us, thus fulfilling the condition, He will work for us in a remarkable manner. We will witness His solving our problems and bearing our burdens as if they were but a feather-weight. We can, however, expect Him to do this for us only after we ab stain from our own plan making, problem solving and burden bearing. Doing this, we are obeying His commandments and will experience a corresponding peace or Sabbath rest. “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18. True circumcision has always been a symbol or expression of the necessary change of heart which leads to a change of proce dures. Today the physical rite is no longer required, but the spiritual cutting away of one’s own works is still necessary. Ev ery time we are confronted with a problem and choose to let God be our Problem Solver, we are testifying that we have indeed cut away the works of the flesh and are living by faith in our eternal Lord. This condition is not met by physical circumcision, nor has it ever been. Unfortunately, as the Jews degenerated in spirituali ty, the outward sign came to be looked upon as the total require ment. They failed to see that circumcision was empty and value less unless it was the physical evidence that they had entered into covenant relation with Jehovah by forsaking their own works and accepting His way of salvation. No one understood this better than the apostle Paul. He lived at a time when the Jews had long since lost their spiritual connection Not an End in Itself