From the Inside, Out

Recently, I was talking with my young sons about the concept of body and soul. I described the body as an eggshell, and the soul as the egg inside. As we cracked open a shell to reveal the egg, I couldn't help but notice both the contrast and connection between the inside and the out. When we come to faith, there is a radical change that happens within us. We move from darkness to light, and lost to found. This transformation can't physically be seen, but is felt within. He boils us, if you will. A once ooey, gooey mess now beautiful, white and solidified. Yet while the egg itself is transformed, it is still confined to the walls of the shell, just as we are confined to the flesh.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

-Galatians 5:24-25

Internal change is immediate. External change is the battle we fight for a lifetime. Yet God challenges believers to be transformed not only on the inside, but on the outside as well. Internal change only comes by the power of God. External change is a choice. But no one can grow in their walk with Christ, or be productive in mission, without consciously taking steps toward complete transformation.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

-Galatians 5:19-23

Evangelism and discipleship are closely linked because the first deals with the internal change, and the second deals with the external. Faith is a journey. Forgiveness and salvation are freely received, and evangelism is a huge part of mission. But in scripture, God compares new Christians to infants. And 'infants' need to be raised and discipled, in order to grow and continue in their own transformation. This week, think of someone in your Jerusalem who may be in need of discipleship, and then reach out to them. When God uses us to bring about change in others, He no doubt brings about change in us as well!

Thoughts to Ponder:

1. How do you feel as though your internal transformation is reflected externally?

2. What fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5 do you best display? Which do you struggle most with?

3. Compare and contrast evangelism vs. discipleship.