John 17:15-18
Father, I don’t ask you to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one. They don’t belong to this world, and neither do I. Your word is the truth. So let this truth make them completely yours. I am sending them into the world, just as you sent me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s so fun to watch Timothy grow and develop. He is in a stage where he mimics pretty much everything we do. If we pat our arm or tap our foot, he pats or taps accordingly. If we growl at him, he growls back. He is very much in the world at this point, as is perfectly normal for 18-month-old babies.
One of the hardest things for us to do as we grow and mature is to learn to function in a situation – or the world – and not be affected by it… not adapt to the situation. And as Christians, this is our job… to become able to function in the world – and in specific situations – and still focus on being the hands and feet of Jesus.
This means that we can tolerate a miserable job or that tyrant of a teacher, because we are answering to God’s call on our life, and no one else’s. God shows us how to be content in all circumstances… how we can do all things with His strength… and we are able to avoid name calling, griping and grumbling, and poor performance on the job or in the classroom. Because we are in the world, but not “of the world,” we can work with an obnoxious person on a church project without being unkind or saying something we shouldn’t in frustration.
Because God equips us to function in the world, but not “of the world,” we can handle it when we decline an invitation to a party we feel we shouldn’t attend or we refuse to dress like the others in a certain circle… even though these choices may cause us to be ridiculed and ostracized. Because God equips us to function in the world, but not “of the world,” it doesn’t matter to us if we lose our relationship with every single friend and family member we have because of our faith… as long as God is still with us (and He is!).
Being in the world but not “of the world” doesn’t mean we can be arrogant, smug, or condescending toward others. We don’t walk around with our noses in the air like we have been given some special title. We have to be kind and loving and tolerant of others… regardless of their station in life, their faith, or their lifestyle.
It would have been so much easier for God to simply remove us one by one the minute we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior. He would not have to worry about our temptation to sin… and neither would we. God would not have to worry that we might screw things up for the next guy by setting a poor example of what it means to be a Christian! But that’s the whole point! God needed to leave us here because we don’t belong here… so that we could share the Good News of redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ with others… so that we could interact with them and relate to them in a way that drew them in and caused them to want to follow Christ, as well.
Being God’s disciple on this earth is a daunting responsibility… and not one we should take lightly. Between keeping our eyes and ears peeled for Satan and doing the work of our Lord and Master, we have a full plate! But the reward so justifies this calling, and being completely God’s is a tremendous honor and blessing.
How well are you doing these days? Do you find you still mimic the behaviors of those around you quite often, much like our Timothy? Or do you find that you are growing daily in strength and resolve… becoming more like Jesus and representing Him well? A lot of your answer comes down to a choice. You can move closer to the world… or closer to God. Where are you standing these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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