Turn Life Inside-Out

The difference between living inside-out and living outside-in is one of the most important truths taught by Christ, and one that is immeasurable in its value to us and impact on our lives.  Before you start thinking I am talking about turning your clothing so that the tags show and the seams are ragged, let me explain what I mean.

                                                     

To live outside-in means to allow those things of the “world” – whether it be circumstances, the actions or words of other people, or the enemy – to flow into you and determine your choices and your feelings.  Most people live outside-in.  They are preoccupied with what others think of them – approval-junkies – or with what circumstances are doing “to” them – viewing themselves as victims.  Their choices and feelings are “tossed to and fro by every wave that comes along.”  They do not stand on solid ground.  Things other than God in their hearts have power over them.  As a result, they live in fear – fear of what others are thinking of them or doing to them, fear of what unknown circumstances and what those circumstances might do to them, and fear of making their own choices for fear of choosing poorly.  Outside-in living is a very unhealthy, empty, hopeless, and powerless way to live.

Visualize yourself standing beside the sea holding a fishing net.  You toss your net out into the “sea” (the symbol for the worldly view throughout Scripture) and haul in what you believe will be good things – perhaps you are seeking to bring in trout or salmon, something you can “eat” (receive in your heart) that will fill you up.  But as you try to bring in the good fish, you also collect up seaweed, jellyfish, and maybe even a shark, eel, or stingray.  Suddenly, the unexpected “catch” begins to fill you with nastiness, to sting you, or even to consume you.  This is a picture of outside-in living.  Whatever is in the world comes in with your net when you bring the external world into your heart. 

Contrast this with inside-out living.  This type of life begins with a focus on the presence of Jesus in our hearts.  Through His presence, we can know His love for us, and we can know who He says we are.  These truths create our solid ground on which we stand.  From those truths then can flow the love of Christ from our hearts out into the world.  As a result, the opinions of others carry no weight – only the truth of Christ informs our choices.  The actions of others have no power over us because those actions or beliefs cannot change who we are in Christ.  Circumstances also carry no power to change who we are, or to undermine the truth Jesus has brought to our hearts.  Circumstances become no more than a setting in which to have our relationship with Jesus.  All power beyond the strength and power of the love of Christ is no more.  Others are no longer able to determine how you feel (about yourself or in general). No one is able to dictate your choices.  Inside-out living is living in true freedom. 

In this scenario, Jesus fills your heart.  He is the One Who feeds you, completes you, and makes you whole.  As He stated, He is the bread of life: “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”  Then out of your heart flows His love, and you become a “fisher of people” instead of a taker from people. 

In Matthew 5, Jesus teaches us about our hearts when we are living inside-out.  If we live as Christ lives, doing only what we see Christ doing, the results are living beyond our limited capacity to love on our own.  Only then can we truly love our enemies; only through inside-out living are we able to surpass the Pharisees; only through oneness with Jesus, connection in our hearts with Him making us whole, can we be “complete” or “perfected” as the Father is perfect.