Today's Passage - Joshua 5:2-5

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 5:2 - 5   "At that time the Lord said to Joshua, 'Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.' So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt - all the men of military age - died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not."             Circumcision is the sign of covenant between God and His people when He chose Abraham. There are a few meanings of circumcision. First, this is the proof that God has a covenant with the Israelites, giving assurance that God will look after Israelites and be their God. Genesis 17:13 says that "my covenant in your flesh...", therefore circumcision is a sign of the covenant. Secondly, this is a testimony, showing that Israelites are chosen by the Lord and separated from all nations to be people of God. Back then, all male were to be circumcised on the eightieth day of their birth, to show that they belong to the Lord.             Similar sign can be found in New Testament, in Colossians 2:11, "In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." So in the New Testament time, baptism is equal to circumcision in the Old Testament, which meant to have all God's elect to put off the bondages of flesh.             This concept occurred many times throughout the Old Testament. Prophet Jeremiah reminded Israelites many times to be circumcised on their hearts, not just on their flesh, for circumcision on the flesh cannot save them. In fact, many that lived during the Old Testament time were struck dead by the Lord even though they were circumcised on their flesh. Likewise, baptism itself cannot be relied on. Baptism is a sign that we belong to the Lord, but baptism doesn't guarantee our salvation, unless you are willing to die, be buried, and live again with the Lord every day. How is your spiritual life? Is your life connected to God? May the Lord help us to rely on Him in our daily lives, and to live out the life of Christ.   Pray with Pastor Tong     Dear Lord, I thank you, for Your promises last forever. May You help us not to be circumcised on the flesh but to be circumcised on our hearts, so that we can live the testimony of being buried into death and raised from the dead. I thank you and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!