From The Inside Out

By nature, we tend to think that in order to get results, we must make the necessary effort to get the desired results, and that is often true. This often carries over into our spiritual lives as well. We think that if we want to be more “spiritual”, then we must have more quite time, pray more, memorize more scripture, give more, attend church more often, etc. There is nothing wrong with these activities for sure, but you can do all of the above and still have that empty feeling which leads to disappointment or even burnout.                               This leads me to one of the reasons that the Gospel may seem too good to be true—let me explain. It has to do with the transformation that the Gospel brings about when it has it's intended impact on our lives. When we are born again, we get a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit-not in theory, but in reality. Because of our exposure to a “sub-standard” gospel (see previous blog), we don’t know who we really are. When you read through the New Testament, you see lives not being improved, but being transformed. This new heart, mind and spirit we now have naturally moves in and toward the things of God. I don’t suspect that anyone had to tell Paul that he needed to have quite time with God or that he should be an active part of the local Church…you get the idea. The power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit at work in Paul and others was the transforming power, the “propelling” force from within.  So, what about you and me? I know the same Gospel that transformed Paul and countless others is waiting to do the same work in us. I think it all starts with looking at our own lives, and should we find that the Gospel has not, or is not transforming us from the inside out, we simply agree with God and then begin a pursuit of discovering who we are in Christ. Developing a hunger to know Him is pleasing to Him and He will respond. The good news is that it does not take “effort”; it takes discovery of this wonderful Gospel.

Ephesians 1:18  “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward those who believe….”

Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love Me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.”

Quote: “Where you invest, that’s where your heart will be.”

Blessings,

Buddy

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