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How do you choose to walk as a Christian?

Your outer life is your reputation with people, but your inner life is your reputation with God.

This article touches on the profound difference between how we present ourselves to the world and how we stand before God. Here’s an outline for this topic:

1. Introduction: Defining Outer and Inner Life
- Outer Life: Reputation with People
This refers to the image we project, the actions we take, and how others perceive us. It includes our achievements, behavior, social status, and relationship management.
- Examples: Social media personas, public behavior, professional achievements.

- Inner Life: Reputation with God
- This is about our true self, hidden from the world but fully known to God. It includes our thoughts, motives, faith, and spiritual condition.
- Examples: Prayer life, inner motives, personal struggles, relationship with God.

2. The Significance of Outer Life
- The Importance of Reputation
- In society, reputation can open or close doors, influence opportunities, and shape relationships.
- Biblical Perspective: Proverbs 22:1 - "A good name is more desirable than great riches."
- The Danger of Living for Appearances
- Focusing solely on outer life can lead to hypocrisy, where one’s public persona does not match one's inner reality.
- Example: The Pharisees, whom Jesus criticized for being outwardly righteous but inwardly corrupt (Matthew 23:27).

3. The Core of Inner Life
- God’s Focus on the Heart
- Unlike people, God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). He values sincerity, humility, and faithfulness.
- The Inner Life as the Source of True Character
- The inner life shapes and sustains our outer life—a solid inner life results in genuine outer actions, not just a façade.
- Examples: David’s heart of worship and Daniel’s commitment to prayer.

4. Balancing Outer and Inner Life
- Integrity: Aligning Outer and Inner Life
- Integrity involves living consistently both in private and public, where there’s no disparity between what we portray and who we truly are.
- Practical Steps: Regular self-examination, accountability, and prayer for a pure heart.
- Jesus as the Model
- Jesus exemplified perfect harmony between His outer and inner life. He lived authentically, with His actions flowing from His relationship with the Father.

5. The Consequences of Neglecting Inner Life
- Spiritual Dryness and Burnout
- When the inner life is neglected, we risk spiritual dryness, burnout, and eventually, a collapse of the outer life.
- Warning: Matthew 7:21-23 - Doing things in God's name without knowing Him intimately.

6. Cultivating a Healthy Inner Life
- Regular Spiritual Disciplines
- Engage in practices like prayer, meditation, Bible study, and reflection.
- Focus on Relationship, Not Rituals
- Ensure that these practices deepen your relationship with God, not just check off religious duties. - Community and Accountability
- Surround yourself with a community that encourages spiritual growth and holds you accountable.

7. Conclusion: Living for God’s Approval
- Final Thought: Ultimately, our aim should be to live for God’s approval rather than people’s applause. Our inner life, nurtured and aligned with God’s will, will naturally manifest in an outer life that honors Him.

This can be a powerful reminder of the importance of aligning our inner life with our outer actions, ensuring that we live authentically before God and people.