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

Sunday, April 5, 2026

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.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

Illustration

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

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, April 5, 2026

Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
1 John 3:18
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Micah 5:2
"The Lord Jesus had goings forth for his people as their representative before the throne, long before they appeared upon the stage of time. It was..."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 10:9
"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Remember: Prayer Is the Heart of the Battle'
"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. And pray for me,..."

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.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations