Circumcision

Then Paul came to Derbe and Lystra and there was a certain disciple named Timothy there. He was the son of a Jewish woman who believed, but his father was a Greek. 

Timothy was well spoken of by the brethren who were Lystra and Iconium.

Paul wanted to have him go on with him and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew his father was a Greek. Acts 16:1-3

We have read in the earlier chapters of Acts how much the apostles opposed circumcision of new believers but here we see Paul do it without a murmur. Why? What caused him to submit youngTimothy  to such a painful proceedure and what did Timothy's father have to say about it?

We are not told re answers to these questions. However it shows how a religious practice can so bind people that they become militant about it's requirement.

We see te first circumcision with Abraham, the father of faith. It had nothing to do with law for hundreds of years. Circumcision was an outward show of a covenant with The Lord. I am sure that at the time of Timothy the proceedure was just a law without a relationship.

Today Christians baptize. The traditional churches infant baptize, thinking that if a child is not baptized they could go to hell. Yet it has nothing to do with a believer's baptism, which is an outward show of a inward change. Where we go when we die depends on who we have a relationship with. If Jesus is our Lord and Saviour then we go to be with Him. If we are our own Lord then eternity will not be pretty. We will know that when we die. 

The non-believer will meet Christ for the first and last time and live eternity in the fires of hell, isolated from the loving Jesus they finally met. That is he'll indeed!

We cannot base eternity on law abiding alone or our own self effort. These only mock the blood shed by a loving Saiour.

 At this time of the year we celebrate Christmas, it is all about Christ, not us. He is God, He alone is Lord! Amen!