Inner Calm and Outer Witness

Inner Calm and Outer Witness

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15 KJV

As we go through life, demands will be placed on our time, resources, possessions and person. Challenges will come to us, no matter how "spiritual" we think we are. In fact, the verse before today's extract talks about suffering for righteousness' sake, and that we should be glad when such experiences come. How do you rejoice in the face of trials and difficulties? How do you maintain calm when everything around you is falling to pieces? How do you keep your equilibrium when the world and all its priorities are losing balance? Today's extract seeks to place in proper context how we can survive in the face of all that is happening all around us.

First of all, our inner man must be rightly connected to the right source for nourishment and sustenance. We have to hold God in the highest regard in our lives. If God is not held in high regard, how do you expect others to respect him? If I do not consider God's commands as important, and I do not pay attention to what he says per time, how would I teach others to follow God? If my heart is not sanctified, and God cannot dwell in it, how would my life be a living witness for God? The state of my heart will determine the fullness of the impact that my life will make. No wonder the extract above emphasizes the need to sanctify the Lord God in my heart. Being Lord means he is master and king, he is the determinant of my steps. Being God in my life means his desires, commands and instructions are my highest pursuits and ideals. Can that be said of me? Can that be said of you?

It is when I have nailed the inner that I can manifest the outer. When God takes first place in my heart, the other part of the extract rings true - being able to give an answer to every man that asks the reason for my hope. Is it not when I have hope that I can give you the basis of that hope? Is it not when God is in charge that my life can truly impact? When a man holds God in the highest esteem, he will always have a message. John the Baptist was not attractive by the world's standards, but because he was willing to decrease so that God could increase in his life, people came from all over the country to listen to him. Interestingly, the King of Kings himself came to John for baptism.

Do you think you have a message for the world? Has God given you something that is a solution to a problem in the world? You will not make a difference until God makes the difference in your life. You will not amount to much until God is all in all in you. His time of favour is here.