Are you an innie, or an outie? No, I’m not talking belly buttons here. What I’m wondering is what direction your Christianity faces? If that seems like an odd question (and I imagine it does!), perhaps it’s only because it’s one we should be asking ourselves more, but fail to do so.

When I survey the offerings in most local Christian bookstores on developing one’s walk with Christ, they seem to overwhelmingly be about the self – “What do I need to change in me to draw nearer to Jesus?”. And while no one who knows me would suggest that I’m saying that we should neglect inward change, I’m becoming more and more convinced that such change is only half – if even that – of the story.

We can get so wrapped up in what we need to do, and in what’s deficient in us, that we overlook perhaps the greatest tool of transformation in God’s toolbox – the element of obedient service unto the Lord. Jesus’ greatest call was for us to go into the world and make disciples (Matt. 28:19,20), and He said “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 4:34). Yet there is a curious excess of church folk who pray, worship, read the Word, give, etc., and yet do not regularly experience the joy and contentment of the Lord. Why? Because their discipleship focus in on themselves and not on others. Certainly it would be unwise to abandon the aforementioned essentials, but if we are engaging in them for ourselves and our own relationship with Christ alone, we’re kinda missing the point of being in Christ!

One of the truths I’m convinced of is that none of us will ever be the Holy Spirit, nor can we ever do His job successfully. If my focus is on myself, then I will be ignoring the call of Christ and am, ironically, cutting myself off from the transformational work of the Spirit. But if my focus is outward, then not only am I allowing myself to be a vessel to touch others, I put myself in the place where God CAN transform me.

Truly there is a time when it is necessary that our focus be inward – that’s called spiritual infancy and spiritual childhood. But Hebrews reminds us that there comes a time when we should move from being discipled, to being used by God to make disciples (Heb. 5:12). No one who has been called by the Spirit unto Christ is not called to spiritual maturity (Eph. 4:13); and spiritual maturity means getting our eyes off of our own spiritual needs and looking unto the fields, which are white unto harvest (John 4:35).

If you’re doing “all the right things” but still can’t seem to flow in the peace and joy of the Lord, then might I suggest that a simple change in focus may be exactly what you’re missing? Spend more time giving – not to reap a hundredfold increase – but with a sincere desire to see others reached for Christ. Spend more time praying for the lost than for your own house, knowing that as we focus on building His house, He will build ours (Haggai 1:9). Worship not just to bless your own life, but as one standing in the gap for those outside of salvation (Ezek. 22:30). And walk in repentance not just to increase your own blessedness, but with the idea that you will be a more useful tool in the Master’s hands (2Tim. 2:20,21).

Jesus told us that as we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, that he would take care of our needs (Matt. 6:33). That’s not some beautiful verse that’s in the Bible for us to learn and recite, but to live. If we’ll commit that truth not just to memory, but to practice, we’ll see just how tangible and effective those words really are.

So… are you an innie or an outie?

Pax Christi!

Dave