Circumcision?
Wasn’t that dealt with once and for all by the early Church?
Yup it was.
But the subject didn’t end there.
It evolved.
In St. Paul’s writings, it subsequently took on a profound spiritual angle that I believe every worshiper and worship leader should look at closely…very closely.
The ‘spiritual’ circumcision or ‘circumcision of the heart’ leads to the practice of the following 4 sound qualities (Phil 3:3-16 and Colossians 2:10-12):
1. Worship by the Spirit of God
The first quality of a circumcised worshiper is his/her worship itself: it will be in and by the Spirit of God. The verses above deeply challenged me to make more room for the Spirit of God to have His say in the way I worship or lead worship. For that is the type of worshipers that God is looking for (John 4:23).
Is my worship really Spiritual? Or have I allowed it to become mindless routine, a matter of technique etc?
2. Boast in Christ Jesus
One unmistakable hallmark of St. Paul was that he was sold out for Jesus…I mean, we are talking about an absolutely Christ-consumed, Christ-saturated and Christ-centered individual!
It’s an incredible challenge today: Is Christ really my most valuable treasure, goal, boast and passion?
3. No confidence in the flesh
The circumcised worshiper’s security is in the Lord and not in this world. St. Paul further says the whole self formerly ruled by the flesh is replaced with a heart fixed on eternity. St. Paul lost a whole lot materially and yet considered it all as rubbish.
Again, it’s a great point to reflect upon: Is my confidence in Christ 100% and rock solid? Or do I still have one leg resting upon experience, ability, talent, money etc?
4. Desire for more of Jesus
St. Paul pressed on.
He was focused.
He knew his destination, the path to get there and stayed right on it…unswervingly.
Can I say something similar about myself? Do I still have the hunger to go further in my walk with God or am I content with the little I have? Thank God for His Word that keeps calling me to focus and refocus on Christ all the time.
How can we follow St. Paul’s example in our journey as a worshiper or worship leader?
