Christ changes us from the inside out. The world, culture, or the flesh wants to change people from the outside in. When we pray, it is not only a petition to God, but it also changes us. When our prayers are inline with what God desires for us, and with how God wants us to handle the world, then we become more effective at doing God’s will.
The Bible talks about this type of change extensively:
- 1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” You can’t control what other people do to you, you can only control your reaction.
- Luke 6:29: “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.” Again, you can only control your reaction. Christ was the ultimate example of this on the cross – He had every right to seek vengeance. He loved his enemies by showing mercy.
- Luke 6:35-36: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Once again, you can only control your reaction and trust that God will reward you for it. We must be slow to anger and quick to show mercy. God desires mercy.
Grace changes us from the inside out. This has many benefits. If we allow it to work, God will help us to better understand people and their motives and as a result, show genuine compassion and mercy for them. This will allow us to love them as God commands, even though they might be our enemies. Only after all this occurs, then can we try to get others to understand us. This is what Jesus did for us — He controlled His reaction to suffering that He endured from a fallen world, and He showed us grace. Now it is our turn to understand Him by studying His word and accepting His great love for us.