God's Holy Fire: 'A Matter of the Heart'

Saturday, April 5, 2025

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
— Romans 2:28-29 ESV

Key Thought

Prejudice is ungodly. It is a divisive stain fueled by the powers of hell. To view people based on their ethnicity, their skin color, their tribe, their language, their culture, their education, or their status is to remain trapped in the sin-dominated world that Satan inflicted on us after the fall. Jesus came to tear down the walls that separate people from each other and to bring us together, through the Holy Spirit, into one new body - his body, the church - where he animates and empowers us through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:11-22). So our identity is not determined by our skin color but by the presence of God's Spirit. We are the cleansed and claimed people of God - spiritually "circumcised" - by the Holy Spirit.

Today's Prayer

Father, we confess that we have allowed petty differences, racial prejudices, tribal conflicts, and regional rivalries to inflict wounds on the body of Christ. We ask - I ask personally - that your Holy Spirit work in each of our hearts to tear down these barriers and help us welcome and cherish each other based on our allegiance to Jesus as Lord and on the presence of your Spirit within us. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Romans 2:28-29 ESV — His praise is not from man but from God.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, April 5, 2025

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Romans 14:5
"One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'In a High and Holy Place' (Is. 57:15)
"The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'When Is Worship A Lie?'
"Dear Disciple, I love all people. That's why I came. At the same time, I have to tell you something — and yes, I'm sorry to have to do this..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Psalms 84:7
"They go from strength to strength. There are various renderings of these words, but all of them contain the idea of progress. Our own good..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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