Inner part 4
I'm telling you, I love this "inner man" truth. Because even though there IS a lot of surface stuff, there's something deep inside called love. And that is our true identity. 1 Peter 3:3-4 puts it like this, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." The hidden man of the heart. Because, really, it is not what's outside that matters. Its what's inside. The trouble we get into is that we put all of our focus on the outside. On our own outward appearance, trying to "look" a certain way, or act a certain way in order to fit in. Letting external things dictate to us. Which is exactly what the Apostle Paul warns against in Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Look at it in the NLT, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." And that point is: You've already been rescued from the world. You've already been brought out of the bondage of sin and death. In the world but not of the world. Because you are in the Kingdom, and you ARE the Kingdom. So don't go back. Don't conform, or copy, that external stuff that's going on all around you. Instead, change the way you think. USE the mind of Christ (that's already in you) by LETTING it be in you. BE transformed into what you've already been transformed in you. Christ in you is the hope of glory, right? The great mystery? But here's the deal: The mystery is out. Because of the cross, and through the Holy Spirit, Christ isn't just IN you, He's also living THROUGH you and AS you. The hidden man of the heart is no longer hidden. Because love is no longer something we (think we) have to earn. We don't have to jump through the world's hoops and settle for the world's idea of love. We don't have to look for love in all the wrong places anymore. We can go straight to the source. Because we KNOW what (WHO, Jesus) the source is. We are connected to the source. The source lives in us. That's why it's the hidden man of the HEART. It's living from the inside out. Not trying to get a love we think we don't have, but knowing and believing that we are loved, and loving God by loving each other with that same love! That's what living from the inside-out is all about. Letting what's inside COME out. And notice I said "letting." Its not about works and labor. Its not about "fake it until you make it." Its about walking by faith. Faith, which comes from hearing the Word about Christ, and faith which works by love. Because its all about love. The inner man, the "hidden" man of the heart, is who we really are. Jesus. God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in YOUR flesh. Love in YOUR body. Filling you to overflowing until your true (love) nature compels you to be who you really are. Naturally.