How can we be in something but not of it? How do we live in a fallen world and yet not be a part of it? Seems too difficult to tackle. We are bombarded daily with the world and its problems. We become saturated in the behaviors we see flashed continuously before us. Not hard to understand why we are cautioned not to follow suit.
Paul saw the same chaos in the world in which he lived. He actually was responsible for a good bit of the chaos. He hunted down disciples of Christ. He participated in seeing to it they were murdered or imprisoned. He was ruthless in that mission. He conformed to the world. Until. There is always an until. Scripture tells us he was on the road to Damascus. Suddenly, a blinding light shone on him. He heard the voice of Jesus, the one he was persecuting. Ever felt or heard the spirit of Jesus in a crisis moment? Jesus got Paul’s attention right in the middle of his day. He diverted him from the ways and customs of the world and gave him blindness for three days. Three long days of blindness and fasting, so he could renew his mind. After that, nothing could stop him. He was fearless in continuing the ministry of Christ. Though he be tortured, imprisoned or killed he refused to deny Christ as the Messiah.
Fast forward to today. I had to take a sabbatical from writing for a time. I began to notice that my attempts at writing had tinges of anger and bitterness in them from all the chaos and turmoil I was seeing, hearing and reading. The mud. The lack of truth. I began to conform to the chaos, instead of daily renewing my mind in the things I know to be true. God’s word tells us that the world is evil. Darkness reigns. But, a salt and light has been placed midst the darkness throughout the earth. Its reason for being is to love and carry on the mission that the disciples and Paul began so long ago. Each of us are here for a reason.
Paul’s world was no different than ours. There was corruption. There were murders. Children were offered on alters as sacrifices. There were adulterous behaviors, robbers and thieves in abundance. Voices offering up their thoughts on everything. There were wars and rumors of wars. Not really much different from now. Paul was encouraging the believers to remember their mission. Remember their Savior. Fashion their lives and behavior after Him not after the habits and fashion of the world around them. Seek righteousness and renewing of their minds. Renewing not just their outward behaviors but change the mind full of pride, coveting, bitterness, hatred, selfishness and arrogance on the inside.
God’s word says the world will pass away. Meanwhile, though the earth continues for awhile, we know of people everyday who leave for their eternal home. We walk with them through their journey and to their resting place. We hold to the faith that we will see them again. We will see them in a place that the scriptures tell us, will never pass away. Where disease and corruption does not exist. Where tears do not fall and hatred does not reign. Where the voice we hear is God’s. Doesn’t it make sense then to live here in such a way that we can live there one day? Why would we live as though there is no God, conforming to the evil ways of this world, and lose an eternity with God there?
Any sound mind would conclude that would not be a wise decision. So, how do we tackle this “In But Not Of” way of life? It is really not as hard as it seems. We wake every new day we are given, thankful for waking. We seek the will of the Father in thoughtful prayer. We ask that he reveal our weaknesses for correction. We inquire some things of Him. What would You have for me today? What would you have me speak today? It has been my experience that God places people and situations before us, to exercise the love of Christ toward others. To smile into someones difficult world. To encourage in times of sorrow and distress. To give hope to the hopeless. The renewing of the mind to honor Christ. We can’t change the whole world. But God placed each of us in our own little corner of the globe known as earth. We begin in our home, our workplace, our travels. We start with our families, our friends, passersby in our lives. We listen for the still quiet voice…Here is one of my beloved sheep. Be my voice, my hands, my feet, my light and my love…
Look to this day for your opportunities to be in the world but not of it. You will reap blessings beyond your imagination.
~Scripture For Today~
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (NASB)
~Additonal Scripture Reading~
Read about the conversaion of Saul of Tarsus who became a disciple of Christ known as Paul the Apostle.
Acts 9: 1-22
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father. Let everything that has a voice praise Your Holy Name. We pray for your will to be revealed in our lives. That we seek to conform to the ways of Jesus and not the ways of the world. Meet us on the road to renewal of our minds, that we might serve you in our small part of the world. Forgive us our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2017 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.