Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised.  The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:12).

They were called Judaizers.  These were Christians who feared the Jewish population, and tried to fly under the radar by following the outward signs of Judaism–like circumcision–while still proclaiming Christ.

Really hard to pull that off.

The worst of it was, they pushed new, immature, Gentile believers into following these same rules.  According to Paul, this was done not to help the new believers, but to protect the Judaizers.  And it was costly–if these baby Christians got caught up in following rules and regulations and outward signs, it was easy to forget that Jesus came to free them from following rules and regulations and outward signs.

Faith could get swallowed up by religion…again.

Beloved, the chances are slim that you will be asked to get circumcised today.  In fact, you can probably relax regarding the whole Jewish sacrificial system.  But there are still those who will expect you to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way that does not come from a biblical understanding of Christ.

Run from them.

Your relationship with Jesus is just that–your relationship with Jesus.  Don’t let anyone but the Holy Spirit speaking through Scripture tell you what that has to look like.  

Don’t be conformed, but transformed.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.