LOVE THE LORD THY GOD

"The LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." —Deuteronomy 30:6 [KJV]

Even Moses, who delivered the fiery law of wrath and terror, preaches like a Barnabas, a son of consolation. In this chapter we have a precious enumeration of new-covenant blessings and evangelical promises, all settled in the eternal counsels between Jehovah, Father, Son and Spirit; all founded in infinite wisdom, everlasting love, and immutable faithfulness; therefore sure to all the seed "who are chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world." Such is the solid foundation of gospel faith and hope. The happy heirs of it the Lord God sets a special mark upon. 

Hereby He owns them as His peculiar ones. This is also an evidence to them of their special relation to Him. As the Father loved His people before time, and gave them to Jesus, to be redeemed in the fulness of time; so also, at the appointed time, the Lord the Spirit performs His office upon them—He circumcises their hearts. This power belongeth to God only. This St. Paul calls "the circumcision made without hands,"—Colossians 2:11. Outward circumcision was a painful operation to the flesh. By it was signified the cutting off all carnal hope and legal confidence in the flesh; and was a sign and seal of new-covenant blessings by Jesus. 

The circumcision of the heart brings the experience and enjoyment of hope in Jesus, peace and joy in Jesus, and a longing expectation of the full enjoyment of Jesus in glory to the soul. When the callousness and hardness of the heart is cut off, then it gladly hears and receives the love of God its crucified Saviour. This love, known and believed, begets love to God in a circumcised heart. And though there is all comfort in love, yet there is a painful sensation attends loving souls. This is the fruit and evidence of love. They mourn and grieve at feeling the sins and corruptions of their natures; they are pained at the sight of them—groan under a sense of them— are filled with shame for them, and detestation against them. 

O how do they strive against them and cry to Jesus for victory over them! To "love the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul," this is their one desire on earth; that they may be in love, wholly devoted to Him who bought them with His blood. Of all such souls the Spirit of inspiration declares, "Happy art thou, O Israel! who is like unto thee, O people, saved by the Lord!"—Deuteronomy 33:29. "We are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."—Philippians 3:3.

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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