Life: Inside Out!

“I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty self-serving witness.” (John 5:30, The Message)

I’m sure you can identify with the attitude of Jesus. You know; listening before deciding or doing. Or, here’s the really easy one…most of us is well versed in putting others before ourselves. Helping ‘others’ first is our motto. 

Then; since we are never out to get our own way and totally committed to carrying out the plans and directives of ‘the boss’ (Lord means #1 boss), we could never be mistaken for being an empty self-serving witness. Well, maybe we are occasionally mistaken as being self-focused. But, if we seem somewhat ‘narcissist’, it is only because we are so miss-understood.

Meanwhile, I’ll be back from the funny farm right after I arrive in the state of ‘reality’. All kidding aside; we do sometimes get our priorities eschewed. Jesus is a very sweet savior, loving brother and friend. But, He is also King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Lest we lose sight of the finished work of the Cross and forget the price He paid to lead us all the way to completion.

This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants; that anyone who sees the Son and aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time.” (John 6:35-40, The Message)

Jesus; rightfully so, is still calling for those who will, to “follow him”. As you respectfully and intentionally follow him, you find there is much to repair, re-order, heal, mature and change on the inside before the outside looks better. Discipleship helps us become equipped to follow his example. Those who hear as Jesus heard can follow as Jesus followed.

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant.”(Ephesians 5:1-2, The Message)

Basically, what we learn from Jesus is how he lived his life in direct, regular response to His Father’s love from the inside out. A total shift of how we lived (BC-before Christ) must take place. All of our “best thinking” got us to where we are in every aspect of life. Our beliefs, viewpoints, perspective, and world-view must be challenged to the core!

The fundamental flaw was that our “best thinking” did not include listening to God’s continuous message of love. If Jesus said, “I listen—then I decide” should we do any less? I had to come (all of us do) to the point of confessing “my life has been stuck on stupid” and left to my own devices, it is un-manageable and out of control. 

If we keep projecting the blame for our repeated struggles and failures on forces on the outside of us, we will keep getting the same results. The only sane starting point is to close our mouths and open our ears (especially the ears of our heart). That may be why we have two ears and one mouth—we are made to listen twice as much as we talk.

Too be nurtured is to listen from our heart. Invite and let Jesus teach you to listen, think, and then live from the inside—out; not from the outside—in! “My heart has heard you say, Come and talk with me, O my people. And my heart responds, Lord, I am coming.” (Psalm 27) We will be amazed to hear from Jesus; “What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours!”

You will be nurtured from the inside—out by Papa’s great love! Ron Ross