What makes the difference?

Let me pose a question that might make you uncomfortable. Are you a Christian from the inside out? Perhaps you do not understand the query.  There are millions of people who do “Christian” things - going to church, able to converse about the Holy Scripture, knowledgeable about the traditions of the faith, living a life that is morally upright. But, if you engage many of those persons in a discussion about the loving God, they admit they do not understand the concept. You discover that they cannot claim a solid assurance about eternal life or that they are God’s child. 

Jesus met a man like that. Sensing that there is ‘more,’ he came to Jesus asking how to inherit eternal life. When Jesus asked him about his observance of the Commandments, he responded: "The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a child.” (Luke 18:21, NLT) Jesus did not challenge his claim so he was truthful. He did all the right things but he did not know God as his “Abba,” his real Father. 

Interestingly, Jesus did not attempt to convince the man of the love of God!  He challenged him to look at his own heart! “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22, NIV)  The Lord knew that this challenge would cause that rich young man to look inside and there he would find that one thing he could not do on his own.

True conversion, an inside out experience of God’s grace, only happens when we come to the end of ourselves, realizing our inability to true love God - heart, soul, mind, and strength - on our own.  God does not allow us to feel this pain and or hopelessness because He enjoys our misery.  We can only own the treasure of His love when we are willing to completely trust His grace. 

If we would be truly different, people of the Kingdom of God, we must receive what we can never earn or gain. It’s a transformation that comes from the inside out, by revelation, instigated by the Spirit of God acting on us. We are not passive. In the mystery of His plan, He asks us to answer His gift of grace with faith.

Paul describes this as the ‘foolishness of the Gospel.’ It takes away any reason for pride, any hope that we have in our own discipline, intelligence, or heritage. At the Cross, the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the royal and the commoner, those morally upright and those whose lives are a drama of self-destruction – stand on level ground. "God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much …(that)  He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms—all because we are one with Christ Jesus. … we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:4,6,10 NLT)

The Christian life is an ‘inside out’ transformation. God does look for change. The things we once loved lose their appeal as we come to love Him. As we ‘keep in step with the Spirit’ we joyfully say yes to love, forgiveness, and generosity;  no to selfishness. Jesus was not compromising on the truth.  Those who know God’s grace will most certainly have a new life, a new heart. That new life shows up in ever increasing measure. Jesus says it this way -  "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:16-18, NIV)

Are you desperate for the love of your Abba?

Do you want to be different from the inside out?

Do you desire to be a true worshipper?

Flip the pursuit from trying to trusting, from looking at your accomplishments to thanking Him for His gift to you.  If we try to experience God’s full life by pointing out how good we have been or how much we have sacrificed for our religion- we insult the Lord of Love. Rather, we thank Him for His amazing love with true humility having glimpsed our brokenness that is offset by His gracious goodness towards us.

Here’s a word from the Word.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods." (Psalm 40:1-4, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see

 

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

 

My chains are gone I've been set free

My God my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy rains

Unending love amazing grace

 

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

 

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God who called me here below

Will be forever mine

Will be forever mine

You are forever mine

 

Chris Tomlin | John Newton | Louie Giglio

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