Romans 2:28-29

"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
Romans 2:28-29


This is really interesting to me today... the whole chapter was interesting, but this at the end kind of sums it up... it doesn't really matter who we seem to be on the outside... what we profess, what symbols of our belief we carry.  It matters what we really believe and live, personally... and our relationship with our Father.  As church members we have a lot of things that might show that fact to the world.  Maybe we have a temple calendar on the wall, or a Book of Mormon on the shelf.  Maybe we are wearing a CTR ring, or a Moroni tie pin... maybe we tell people that we don't drink, smoke, engage in premarital sex, or do drugs.  Maybe we talk about "Relief Society" activities or going to "Stake Conference."  And it isn't that those things aren't good, or a valid part of our lives... it is only that they are surface symbols, and none of them goes deeper than the flimsy outer wrapping.  God sees our hearts... and I wonder, do we have some recognizable evidence *there* that we love God and that we want to be part of making things better?  Do we live what we profess?  If we display a picture of the temple, do we actually go there?  If we wear a CTR ring, do we actually try to Choose the Right?  If we are wearing a little Moroni tie tac, do we actually know what Moroni taught, and are we trying to live it?  If we tell people all the things that "we" don't do... is it true for ourselves personally?  I know, I say this all the time... but the church isn't a club.  It isn't just a nice place to hang out and meet new friends... and if we treat it like that is its only function, then we are cheating ourselves.  We have an opportunity to help each other to build (and be a living breathing part of) the Kingdom of God.  Today... let's worry about what God thinks more than what anyone else in the world thinks. :)