GALATIANS 2:3
“But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.”
Okay, I am not going to make this blog all about circumcision. First of all, it’s kind of an uncomfortable topic. Am I right? I didn’t have a voice in that personally. It happened when I was a baby. It is done outside of Judaism simply as a health and hygiene choice. It meant a lot more in the Jewish faith.
Why does Paul even bring this up? Because it was important for the Gentile churches he was writing to understand that this rite of circumcision was not required of them. Titus, being a Greek, was not forced to get circumcised when he accompanied Paul back to Jerusalem. The leaders of the church, all Jews at the time, did not believe that was necessary for salvation.
APPLICATION
What are you being coerced to do to be a “better” Christian? Is that why you attend church every time the doors are open? Do you feel compelled to go to that ladies’ luncheon or to the men’s breakfast to appear engaged in the church? There is nothing you can do on the outside to improve your life spiritually. You don’t earn brownie points by doing certain things or not doing others.
Romans 2:28-29 say it well, “28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.” It is totally an inward thing. Paul knew Titus loved the Lord his God. He didn’t need to prove that by getting circumcised.
So many religions are based on works and earning your way into a higher plain or nirvana or whatever they call it. You can rest in the fact that as a believer you are saved through the precious blood of the Lamb and nothing else. Yes, we need to obey His commands. Yes, we should strive to live holy. Just don’t fall into that trap of having to do. Just be!
Father, thank You for circumcising my heart, for sealing me with Your Spirit.
A Moment In Time 
I’m glad the battle of works the Lord left on the doorstep of ones heart. It does reflect ones action in “attending” to matters there laid, whether once, twice or thrice or even every time at an open gate, if you get my drift.
Concerning the “delicate” issue in decision making I refer to Johnathan Evans take on this matter. He said, “you don’t think the Gospel is painful? Have you not heard of circumcision?, where God demands that a man be cut in his most sensitive areas so he would have to learn to endure the pains of his identity in the Gospel in life’s most sensitive areas. But don’t think its by your works, cause its Grace that carries us and its by His Grace the battles already been won.”
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