“It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”—Galatians 6:15 NLT
So much of life can feel like a pursuit of approval. We chase the right credentials, the right image, the right group to belong to. We shape ourselves to fit in, to succeed, to be seen. In Paul’s time, one of the great dividing lines was circumcision—a physical sign tied to identity, tradition, and belonging. But Paul makes a radical point: none of that is what truly matters. What counts, he says, is becoming a new creation.
God is not impressed by outward signs. He looks for inward transformation.
This verse pulls us back to the heart of the gospel. Following Jesus isn’t about performance or appearance. It’s not about checking the right boxes or projecting a spiritual image. It’s about letting God do what only He can—make us new from the inside out. When we come to Christ, we’re not just cleaned up. We’re made new. The guilt, the striving, the pressure to prove ourselves—they’re replaced by grace, and by the steady love of a Father who calls us His own.
So today, instead of asking, “Am I doing enough?” try asking, “Am I letting Christ renew me?” Am I making space for His presence, letting Him shape my thoughts, my choices, my desires? Because in the end, it’s not about how well we perform or how we’re perceived. What matters most is who we’re becoming in Him and that we already belong to Him through our faith in Jesus Christ.