Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
Comment: Paul says ‘Now that you are a Christian, accept the facts and get on with living for God!’ Circumcision is not a big issue to most in the West these days but it was to converted Jews! Circumcision of males is the mark of male Jewishness! Some Jewish converts felt that as Christianity came out of the Jewish faith all believing males should be circumcised for religious reasons – ‘Not so’ Paul emphatically calls out. Others argued that as they were already circumcised and had stopped being Jews and become Christians they should seek to remove their mark of circumcision. Again, and just as emphatically Paul says ‘Not so!’ If you are a slave or if you are free accept the fact! To the slave Paul says but accept your freedom in Jesus. To the freedmen he says but remember that you are, by your choice, the doulos (slave) of Jesus. Don’t get all tied up in the issues of ‘if it were different’, rather get on with living for your new Lord!
Prayer: Help me daily, with joy, to live for You, my Beloved Saviour!
As I read it! 