City Life Starter

Written by Eric Stephens

The Word

“When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. Then Abraham took Ishmael his son and all those born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him. Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised. And all the men of his house, those born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.”

Genesis 17:22-27

“He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.”

Romans 4:11-12

Reflection

Abrahams faith wasn’t a secret event of the heart but something that he practiced publicly.  The older I’ve become the more noticeably rigid I am in my way of doing things which is why Abraham’s life is so convicting. As Abraham turns 99 years old, God institutes the covenant of circumcision. Abraham, his son, all the men of his house and those bought with money from a foreigner are impacted by it.

It’s almost impossible nowadays to mount up the courage to invite a family member or coworker to church…imagine discussing circumcision. Two things that really jump out in the passages in Genesis 17:

1. Abraham didn’t exempt himself from the covenant’s institution. Too many times leaders espouse one thing publicly but privately do something different. The scriptures say “that very day” Abraham did what God had commanded and he started with himself.
2. Everyone within his influence was circumcised. His family, his servants and even his servants families…everyone! Imagine being impacted with the gospel so much that everyone you come into contact with is impacted.

Romans 4:11-12 shows us that Abraham is also the father of those who believe who are not circumcised so that righteousness would be counted to them as well (and the church said “amen!”). As freeing as this news is, the same passion Abraham exhibited to do what was difficult should be there with us today. Christ fulfilled in Himself all the requirements of the law so that you and I wouldn’t be bound to those requirements. The challenge now remains for us to share this liberating news with our family, coworkers and everyone who’ll listen.

Application

Does God word and his promises saturate your life so much that everyone you come in contact with is impacted?

Have you resolved that no matter how old you are or whatever stage you are in your relationship with God that you are not exempt from obeying His word?

Prayer

Father help us believe and obey Your word that it not only changes us but everyone we come into contact with. May that impact start with us and our families and let it start today! Amen.