ISH-ing the Externals

So, I know that after last week you got the internals (love God with heart, soul, mind and strength) all figured out. Right!! Okay, so maybe you have just started to work on what it really means to love God this way. Keep at it. As we begin to talk about ISH-ing the externals don’t think that you need to have all of the internal stuff figured out before you start yielding the externals to God. All of this is a life-long journey, not a one-time event. But, I will give you a little warning: if you are not becoming more committed to God in the internals don’t expect much change in your externals, because you can only live out what is happening on the inside.
What are the externals? They are all of the outward features and structures, like my body, abilities, time, money, stuff I own, and the things I create. When I think of all of the externals my first question is, “Are they really mine?” Let’s answer that question from the Bible as our starting point. 1 Cor 6:19-20 tells us, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.”
If you are a Christ follower, God bought you. He paid a high price for you, His son Jesus. You are not your own master. If I am not my own then all of my outward features and structures are not mine either. Since that is true, then what “should” my attitude be toward only ISH-ing (In Sorta Halfway) the externals? While you are thinking through your answer to that question, remember there is often a big difference between “What should be” and “What is,” so after you answer what your attitude should be, ask yourself what your attitude really is. Over the next few weeks we will take a look at what God says about our externals and see if “ISH-ing it”(In Sorta Halfway) is ok with Him.
Are you ready for this?

-Pastor Tim