CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART
"AND THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEART AND THE HEART OF YOUR DESCENDANTS, TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, that you may live."
Deuteronomy 30:6 (NKJV)
The circumcision of the heart is mentioned in the above passage of the Bible which God did promise to do in the new generation of Israelites. Through the circumcision of heart the Israelites would love God (Deuteronomy 30:6).
Those who are circumcised in the heart are the true Israelites. They are the seed of Abraham through faith:
28 FOR HE IS NOT A JEW WHO IS ONE OUTWARDLY, NOR IS CIRCUMCISION THAT WHICH IS OUTWARD IN THE FLESH; 29 BUT HE IS A JEW WHO IS ONE INWARDLY; AND CIRCUMCISION IS THAT OF THE HEART, IN THE SPIRIT, NOT IN THE LETTER; WHOSE PRAISE IS NOT FROM MEN BUT FROM GOD" (Romans 2:28,29 NKJV).
11 AND HE [Abraham] RECEIVED THE SIGN OF CIRCUMCISION, A SEAL OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE FAITH WHICH HE HAD WHILE STILL UNCIRCUMCISED, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FATHER OF ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE, THOUGH THEY ARE UNCIRCUMCISED, THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS MIGHT BE IMPUTED TO THEM ALSO,
12 AND THE FATHER OF CIRCUMCISION TO THOSE WHO NOT ONLY ARE OF THE CIRCUMCISION, BUT WHO ALSO WALK IN THE STEPS OF THE FAITH WHICH OUR FATHER ABRAHAM HAD WHILE STILL UNCIRCUMCISED."
Romans 4:11,12 (NKJV)
When a person's heart is circumcised, the love of the person for God would have no bounds. Those who are yet to be totally dedicated and faithful in their relationship with God, in terms of love and commitment; they are because their hearts are yet to be circumcised. When your heart is circumcised, you want to obey God in all things, even to the risk of your life. But when this circumcision is lacking, the love for God would also be lacking. And when there is no love for God, the reverential fear of Him would be lacking as well.
When you love someone:
a. You would not want to disobey Him.
b. You would not want to deceive Him.
c. And you would not want to take Him or His Word for granted—be indifferent to his words.
Circumcision of the heart is what God is asking or demanding for from whoever professed to be a believer in Christ Jesus. It not about being neck-deep or deeply involved in the church or ministry activities alone, in order to have the feelings of serving God. Being deeply involved in God's work in His vineyard or kingdom is good but your communion or fellowship with God should not be neglected.
If you are overtaken or consumed with the activities, like Martha did when Jesus visited their home, that would not be pleasing to God. What is pleasing to God, Jesus Christ is that your attention be given to His Word, being obedient to Him through His Word, and being a doer or practicer of whatever He commanded or instructed you to do (John 15:10,14; James 1:22-25).
Martha was reproved by Jesus Christ because her focus was on a wrong thing. She wanted to feel fulfilled by getting food ready for Jesus Christ Who visited their home. But what matters most to Jesus was what Mary did, sitting at the feet of Jesus to hear and learn what He was teaching (Luke 10:39,42). Martha was reproved by Jesus that her concern should have been about listening to what He was saying or teaching, not about food she was passionate about getting ready for Him, Jesus (Luke 10:40-42).
Your passion to do menial works in your local church or fellowship might be commendable and impressive in the sight of others in the church or ministry, but your heart relationship with God is what matters most to God—the work you do in your local church or fellowship should be out of your love for God.
There are things some believers do to receive praise and accolade of men or people, but such things you do might not have any significance to God If your heart is not circumcised to love God passionately and the things done were not done or being done out of a circumcised heart and genuine love for Him, God.
Whatever you are doing that is not being done out of passionate love for God is not reckoned with by Him. In other words, such has no meaning in the sight of God. Remember, those who love God with all their heart and soul are the ones who would live (Deuteronomy 30:6).
Peace.