A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
—Romans 2:28-29 (TNIV)
I was struck this morning when I read this about the “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit”. It kind of stabs you (but gently) in the heart. Paul is exactly right; if we do not let ourselves be circumcised in our hearts, then we have not given ourselves over completely to the Holy Spirit.