Inside Out | Crosstraining 12.17.15

Read Mark 7:14-23 I love watching people at family Christmas parties. At most of them, people tend to start off very happy and cordial. Everything seems like it is going great. However, at many family gatherings, the niceties quickly wear off. Grandma says something embarrassing, an uncle gets a little handsy with an in-law, mom tries to teach someone how to be a good parent, or age old issues start creeping up. Eventually, the holiday happiness gives way to the typical family bickering, or, better yet, underhanded compliments and passive aggressive comments. In what was some of Jesus’ more controversial teachings in His day, He claimed that it wasn’t really what we put into our body that makes us sinful or unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of our body that makes us sinful. Our actions show what’s in our heart. So, when evil thoughts like sexual immorality, theft, murder, greed, malice, slander, envy, arrogance, and on and on, those things show our true sin nature. It’s not what’s outside of us that’s the problem. It’s what’s inside us that’s the problem. While not every family gathering is super dramatic, it is pretty typical of how we often operate. This is because what’s inside of a person will eventually come out. We can try to pretend to be something different than we are or pretend we feel differently about something that we do, but, often, the front only lasts so long. The key isn’t to try to fake it like you are a good person, it is to try to allow God to change you from the inside out. God wants to make you a better person, but it doesn’t happen by just acting better. God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sin, so we could go to heaven one day. But, he also died for us, so that He could change us from the inside out. Reflect Does your family struggle with family drama? How much do you feed into it? How would God want you to handle those situations? Pray Spend some time today praying for your family. Ask God to be with them and to help them grow. // TWO-A-DAYS // GO A LITTLE FARTHER WITH YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS // Go through these questions with your spouse, kids, or friend, or you can even journal about the answers to these questions:

1. What was the best part of your day?
2. What was the toughest part of your day?
3. Where did you mess up today?
4. Where did you see God today?

READ THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT: Today’s Reading: Revelation 6 Read Mark 7:14-23 I love watching people at family Christmas parties. At most of them, people tend to start off very happy and cordial. Everything seems like it is going great. However, at many family gatherings, the niceties quickly wear off. Grandma says something embarrassing, an uncle gets a little handsy with an in-law, mom tries to teach someone how to be a good parent, or age old issues start creeping up. Eventually, the holiday happiness gives way to the typical family bickering, or, better yet, underhanded compliments and passive aggressive comments. In what was some of Jesus’ more controversial teachings in His day, He claimed that it wasn’t really what we put into our body that makes us sinful or unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of our body that makes us sinful. Our actions show what’s in our heart. So, when evil thoughts like sexual immorality, theft, murder, greed, malice, slander, envy, arrogance, and on and on, those things show our true sin nature. It’s not what’s outside of us that’s the problem. It’s what’s inside us that’s the problem. While not every family gathering is super dramatic, it is pretty typical of how we often operate. This is because what’s inside of a person will eventually come out. We can try to pretend to be something different than we are or pretend we feel differently about something that we do, but, often, the front only lasts so long. The key isn’t to try to fake it like you are a good person, it is to try to allow God to change you from the inside out. God wants to make you a better person, but it doesn’t happen by just acting better. God sent His Son to die on the cross for our sin, so we could go to heaven one day. But, he also died for us, so that He could change us from the inside out. Reflect Does your family struggle with family drama? How much do you feed into it? How would God want you to handle those situations? Pray Spend some time today praying for your family. Ask God to be with them and to help them grow. // TWO-A-DAYS // GO A LITTLE FARTHER WITH YOUR DAILY DEVOTIONS // Go through these questions with your spouse, kids, or friend, or you can even journal about the answers to these questions:

1. What was the best part of your day?
2. What was the toughest part of your day?
3. Where did you mess up today?
4. Where did you see God today?

READ THROUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT: Today’s Reading: Revelation 6]]>