Heart Marking

What others see as they look at our faith journey is not always the most important thing.  Certainly, what is outwardly seen is no big deal for God since He is not One who is caught up with outward appearances.  While most readers of the Old Testament understand that the physical act of circumcision was of singular importance to the Jewish people, it was not according to the Apostle Paul the defining mark of the chosen people of God.  Instead, something invisible to the human eye was the distinguishing marking.    

In verse 29 of the second chapter of Romans, the Word of God speaks to us through Paul saying, "...a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and a real circumcision is a matter of the heart--it is spiritual and not literal."  It brings to mind something found in the writing of the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah,  "...says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33)  Paul recognized how easy it is to make something visible a sign of righteousness when the real sign is seen first by God in the heart.     

Only as the heart is marked does the righteousness of God begin to stream forth into the lives of those around us.  We often forget this fundamental truth about the spiritual life.  It is more than the things which can be seen.  It is about more than the things about which we might boast.  It is something as simple as a heart focused on God.  As the inner invisible part of life becomes focused on God, what He is doing in us becomes obvious, not because we desire it to be so, but because it is the spontaneous fruit He  produces in us.