We Need Work on the Inside
Outward behavioral change can lead to inner change. We act against our will till our inner working adapts to the new reality. Notably, even in such efforts at change we must focus on inner change. However, risks exist here. New believers in a church community can be shamed invisibly and quickly change outwardly. This can be harmful as it leads to false growth based on outward conformity. We need work on the inside.
Let’s look at Romans 12.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I see that verse 1 is fabulous and memorable, but lets first put it aside.
Verse 2 gives us something more clear to do. God asks us to not conform and let him renew our mind.
We Need Work on the Inside Always
The world is always putting pressure on us to fit in and be cool or whatever flavor will get us to follow the elites.
The world most clearly pressures young people, but everyone must make space for God.
Some events we must avoid. Much on line activity we must step back from. However, we must be active and not just withdraw. We must cooperate with God whose main goal is to change us on the inside. Can we make Him space to write on the blackboard of our heart? God has changed me a lot. I must not say. “I am done changing”.
God says we must be like little children to enter the kingdom of God. We must be learners and changing all our lives. Who of us can say, “I am outward oriented” or “I don’t need God to do more work in me”. In truth, if we are not growing, we are dying.
I do not want to say that we are all bad。 God made us in his image and redeemed us when we came to faith and now wants to continue winning us back.
Now, let’s go back to verse 1. We need to die a little bit more to let God live in us more. Thus, verse 1 and verse 2 are both talking about the same topic. They take a different tack at the same thing. Can we see how God wants to give us new life?
