In Part 3 of "The Insider" Jim Petersen gets down to the practical lifestyle of an insider (one who reaches out to those around them, sharing the Kingdom life). He suggests seven specific patterns of behavior that will be part of a fruitful insider's life. He devotes a chapter to each pattern.
1. Taking little initiatives. Since the kingdom of God is within us, then it's through us that people see the kingdom. This takes place through the simple ways that we live our lives:
People see the kingdom whenever we show mercy instead of judgment, speak truth when a lie would be to our advantage, or serve when it's neither expected nor deserved...They (insiders) keep their anger in check. They don't degrade another person by lusting for them. They keep their word and are generous even toward people who want to take advantage of them. They even love their enemies.
The point is to build relationships and to pour love into them. Not for the sake of what we can accomplish in that person's life, but just to be people of the kingdom:
Frequently someone will ask me the question, How long sould I stick with a friendship? I've been a friend to this person for almost two years and he's no closer to becoming a Christian now than he was when we first met. Should I forget him and move on? The reply, of course, is, If that is our agenda in our friendships, if we are interested in people only because of what we might accomplish with them, then we have missed the point. When we think like that, we aren't loving as our heavenly Father does. He loves with no strings attached.
Petersen also encourages us to greet those, daily, that are in our daily traffic pattern whom we typically ignore. He tells a wonderful story about a woman's impact on the train car she road everyday because of her efforts to greet and get to know the other regulars on her trip.
2. The second life-pattern of an insider is to Pray and Respond. Take the name of our friends to the Father. It's his work and his initiative that we are seeking.
3. The third life-pattern of an insider is to Serve Others. Jesus said that we fulfill the law of love "by serving the needs of the people with whom we cross paths." We look for simple ways to serve others and to show hospitality to others.
Coming next-- the fourth life pattern: Conversing the Faith!
