Inward Focused

We looked at a lot of verses yesterday [Mark 11:1-26].  But the point was simple.  It's what's going on inside us that truly matters.  My main point for the whole day was worded this way on the screen:

Since what's insides us always works itself out 

AND since our outward actions don't always depict what's really going on inside us

THEN what's inside is ultimately all that matters.

Throughout the passage we saw this point being proven in a few different ways.  We saw outward expressions of submission (1-11), we saw outward appearance giving a false perception (12-14), we saw inward sin working itself outward (15-19) and then we see Jesus driving home his point of inward things mattering most (20-26).  

We all face a tension with this though.  On one hand we want to 'do' the right things simply because we know they are right to do.  But on the other we don't just want to do things simply because they are right.  We want our actions to be meaningful.

It's like a wife that would love her husband to bring flowers.  She doesn't want her husband just to 'do' that, she wants him to want to do it for her...although she'd probably take them anyway :-)

Well, the bottom line was in view of this tension.  We need to ask God to change us inside and then allow that to work itself out.  There are times when we just need to 'do' certain things or not do others, but ultimately we need to be begging God to transform us (Romans 12:2).  

The Triumphal Entry we saw outward signs of submission, but ultimately the masses were not worshipping God.  Do you struggle with trying to look like you are seeking to honor God in all you do, but internally struggling to submit to Him and His ways?

The Fig Tree looked like it had fruit, but didn't.  Can you relate to this?  Are you the type of person that others look at and think everything is okay, but deep down you are struggling?

If you answer any of these questions positively (meaning you struggle), I want to strongly encourage you to be real about it.  The reality is you are helping nobody by keeping your faith struggles to yourself.  In one way you are protecting yourself, but in another you are killing yourself.  Life is not meant to be lived alone and we, as your brothers and sisters in Christ, are here to walk alongside you through whatever you face.  

We all have issues and weaknesses.  That's not the question.  The question is whether or not we're going to try and act like we don't.