Xu Yonghai was imprisoned in China because he was working for the legalization of house churches. Here in North America we might take this sort of thing for granted. But over there it is very serious (and dangerous) business. 

Not only was he imprisoned, but he was sentenced to be executed. His last stop was a small cell. All he had was a bar of soap. He spent his time praying and reflecting on Bible passages.  

While waiting for his execution, he had an idea for the outline of a book. Since he didn’t have a pen, pencil or computer, he used the bar of soap to the write the outline for the book on the wall. Then he memorized it.

Eventually—praise be to God!—Xu was released. He wrote down the outline for his book and called it: “God the Creator.”*

Here in our modern, individualistic and “civilized” society, it is incredibly easy to only focus on what God seems to be doing “around” us, and possibly even “for” us, but to neglect what he is doing “in” us—even though what he is doing inside of us may be one of his greatest accomplishments in our lives.

“Oh dear, look at all the badness. Gee whiz, I guess God is on vacation.”

Not so fast.

While in prison, Xu didn’t have very nice things happening around him. I’m sure if you had asked his family about what God was doing for him, they wouldn’t have had many positive things to say. And yet, incredible things were happening inside of him.

In Ephesians 4, Paul tells his readers to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (verse 24). Since our “new self” is a part of us, it can never be taken away. It goes with us wherever we go. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, and regardless of whether the world around us is chaotic or calm, we can powerfully reflect the goodness of our God

Focus not only on what God is doing around you, but in you. This may be one of his greatest accomplishments in your life.

“…put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Notes:

-“What God is doing—not only around you, but in you” Click here. Sermon.
-*Max Lucado, Outlive Your Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000), 81.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.