Changed From The Inside

Recently, I have been contemplating how God changes Christians, transforming them to be exemplary in the things they do.  One can accept this kind of transformation and allow God to change him or her from the inside out.  Christians are not to let the outward pattern of the world be their standard for renewal, but allow themselves to undergo a process of metamorphosis, which changes the quality of their lives, beginning from the inside.

Kindness and consideration are qualities God has given us to be used in humility to encourage one another.  We are not to think of ourselves as better than anyone else but to live for one another, building each other up by every good example.  We learn to take a genuine interest in others and try to avoid trouble, knowing it is best to live at peace with everyone.  It is good news that we can live peaceably among others and be able to show genuine kindness, and not react by using evil against evil.

It is God’s position and not ours, to direct punishment where it may be due.  Ours should always be a “respectable response.”  We cannot improve our characteristics by using only our own strength.  Instead, we need the strength of God to enable us to react in a respectful way.  It is good news that we can surrender to God’s strength, and enjoy the renewing of our minds and be good examples to our neighhbours.  It is of special significance that we can overcome evil with good.  As the Scripture says, “I urge you brothers and sisters, …let your bodies be a living sacrifice to God.  This is your reasonable service.”  It is the logical way.  Allow yourselves to be transformed by God so He can lead you into a victorious life.

It is not that we are trying to do our best on our own, to improve ourselves, but that we must allow God to change us from the inside out.  As the example to illustrate this lesson, there is a story I heard along with some other people, of an individual who responded quietly to provocation, then dealt with it in his own way, which most people would consider fair:

A truck driver was about to enjoy his big juicy cheeseburger in a restaurant popular to truckers and other travelers.  No other booths were available when a motorcycle gang entered.  Seeing the trucker sitting alone, one of the gang members demanded that he must give him his booth.  There was no response, so the biker reached out and grabbed the cheeseburger and ate it in spite of the trucker already having taken one bite.

When the biker finished the cheeseburger, the trucker relinquished his table and proceeded to the cashier to pay his bill.  Then, he quietly left.  Later, when the biker was paying his own bill, he commented to the cashier, “He wasn't much of a man, was he!  He didn’t put up an argumemt.”  The cashier responded, “That’s true, and he wasn’t much of a driver either.” “Why do you say that?” he asked, and to which she replied, “He just drove over a whole row of motorcycles."

The reaction from the listeners was spontaneous, as most people would expect.  Everyone laughed, thinking fair punishment had been administered, and the bikers got what they deserved.  That is exactly the point being made.  The listeners were acknowledging that justice had been served.  God however, would not consider it so.  

Christians are ones in whom Jesus makes changes from the inside out and they know that God said, “Vengeance is Mine.”  Scripture tells us that when someone offends you, to turn the other cheek.  Then, there will be no continuation of hostility and the animosity will be forgotten.  Jesus gave us the example in His prayer on the cross:  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  That is the way a Christian should respond.  Many people would consider that the trucker acted justly and the bikers received what they deserved.  However, one can imagine the bikers’ reaction, which would be to retaliate.  Getting even would be their obsession.  If just one motorcycle was left to operate or if a car was commandeered to enable a biker to accost the truck driver, he would be in a predicament.  Letting God handle this situation would have been the wise choice.  We would have admired the truck driver if he had acted as a Christian and had driven off carefully, demonstrating how God had changed him from the inside out.