REAL CIRCUMCISION Devotion 14 of 39 There is a proneness in men to base their faith on evidence, rather than in the Living God. The world says, "Seeing is believing." In some circles, this is even thought to be commendable. But it is not. You may recall that Thomas once said, "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." Eight days later, when Jesus again appeared to His disciples, Thomas was also present. Confronted with the evidence of a real risen Savior, Thomas cried out, "My Lord and my God." Jesus then pronounced a blessing BUT NOT UPON THOMAS. "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: BLESSED are they that have NOT seen, and YET HAVE BELIEVED" (John 20:25-29). Let me say it again: a blessing was NOT pronounced upon Thomas. – Tomorrow:
"For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Rom 2:25-29, NKJV)
It is also possible for joy to inhibit faith. This is not the "joy unspeakable and full of glory" mentioned by Peter (1 Pet 1:8). Rather, it is a joy induced by sight – by physical evidence. We have an example of this type of joy in one of Christ's first post-resurrection appearances. This occurred when Cleopas and his partner reported their experience with Jesus to "the eleven." While they were speaking, "Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, ‘Peace be unto you." The disciples were terrified and frightened, thinking they were seeing a spirit. In tenderness, Jesus told them "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." He then showed them His hands and His feet. Their response is recorded in most arresting words: "they yet BELIEVED NOT FOR JOY" (Luke 24:33-41). The NASB reads, "they still COULD NOT believe it FOR JOY," and the NIV reads, "they still did not believe it BECAUSE OF JOY."
In both of these cases, the individuals were faced with the ultimate evidence – the Lord Jesus Himself. In the first instance, the evidence did not produce the blessing to be experienced by those who believe without that evidence. In the second instance, the evidence induced a joy that was not accompanied by believing. That should confirm to our hearts how inappropriate it is to seek evidence in order that we might believe. It also should teach us that trust should not be in impersonal evidences, but in the Lord Himself.
It is the peculiar ministry of faith to enable the individual to trust without immediate evidence, for "faith is the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1). In fact, faith itself is "the evidence" and "the substance."
Lest we miss the point, circumcision was the evidence – the sign of the covenant. It could not gain access to God for those who had transgressed the covenant. Disobedience reduced the circumcised person to the same condemnation leveled against the Gentiles. Evidences are not, nor were they ever, intended to be the objects of trust. Trust is to be in God and Christ, and Them alone.
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ I thank You for the marvelous evidences You give. But I thank You more for Yourself, in whom I have put my trust.