Tag Archives: Inside

All of Us

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Ours is an inside out faith. For us, as Christians, it all starts on the inside. Now, what we “do” matters. Our lives matter. How we live, how we speak, what we do, where we go, all these things, they really do matter.

But, they have to start somewhere. For us, as Christians, and what Jesus wants for us today, is that is what is inside will show itself.

And here’s the thing. What is inside will show itself. It’s not that it may do it. It will do it. Our actions show what’s on the inside. Listen to what Jesus says today in Mark 7: 14-15 and 20-22:

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” . . . And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

392290825_640Jesus says that nothing outside can defile (or make unclean) a person. It’s what is inside.

But wait, then He lists a whole bunch of stuff that we shouldn’t do. And all over the Gospels, and the Bible, there are lists of things that we should do, and things that will leave us condemned.

So, what gives?

It starts on the inside. The faith that is inside, the faith that’s in our hearts, that faith that’s really down, within us, it will show itself with our actions. Our faith will be made known in what we do. How we will. Our actions. Our “works.”

Our actions and works don’t save us.

The simply show us (and the world) what’s already there.

It starts on the inside.

I put it this way, when Jesus has our hearts, He will have our actions. Ours is an inside out faith.

Today, may Jesus have all of us.

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Outside or Inside?

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In one of today’s readings, Samuel sets out to anoint a new king for Israel.  Ought to be an easy enough job.

After all, everyone knows what a king should look like. Everyone knows what a king should be like. Should be a very, very easy job.  Samuel is led by the spirit to Bethlehem, to Jessie. And, one of Jessie’s sons will be the new king of Israel.

And, they each come out. All are good-looking, tall, ideal looking kings.

Only one problem.  God has not picked any of them to be king. This bothers Samuel. Shouldn’t one of these have been king?  Don’t they fit the part?

And the Lord responds to Samuel’s doubts here in 1 Samuel 16:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The Lord looks at the heart. We look at the outside. We think we can judge people base off how they look. What they wear.  Their appearance.

God says, no, that’s the important thing. That’s not what matters.  What matters is what’s inside. What matters is what is in the heart. What matters is not what you think is most important.

Today, as we live our lives, will take this lesson for ourselves?

Today, will we judge folks based on the outside?  Or will we look deeper? Will we see the heart?  Will we see what really matters? Will will see what is most important.

God doesn’t judge based off appearance.  He looks at the heart.

May we not judge folks off the outward. May we look first to in the inward. And may we remember what is more important.