I love to read and reread the Bible. 

But every now and then an old verse jumps out at me as if I had never read it. Sometimes it’s because I read it in a different version. So it is with today’s verse, written in the New Living Translation.

“For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.” Romans 2:28-29 NLT

Paul is a radical apostle who both encourages and rebukes the Jews who display an outer religious ceremony, but have no inner change. Thus he tells them not to rely on circumcision to save them. And he introduces three very important principles:

1. Salvation cannot be earned. It is only given by God’s grace, and received through faith in Jesus. In other words, it’s a free gift to us. It is not from circumcision, or going to church, or reading the Bible. It’s a personal gift from God to us, and we must reach out to receive it personally.

2. Salvation brings a change of heart produced by the Holy Spirit. We can’t save ourselves. It is a supernatural event done by the Spirit. We can never take credit for our transformation. When we are saved, our heart moves from being selfish to giving, from prideful to humble, and from lustful to loving. Anything good in us is from God!

3. My approval and worth now come from God. Once I know Jesus personally, I live for His applause instead of seeking man’s. I now want to honor God in every area of my life. This change of living is proof of a heart-change. Our greatest fulfillment now comes from obeying and honoring our Father God.

Isn’t that a great passage from the Bible? When you read the Bible, look for these gems. And before you read, pray the Spirit will uncover these treasures to you. I know I desperately need this fresh revelation for my own growth. This is part of discipleship.

So no matter how old or young you are in the Lord, He will continue to speak His truth in a fresh and relevant way to your heart. Then by His Spirit you will come back to your first love for Jesus, and your testimony for Him will be alive, fresh, and contagious!