19/02/08

In the World But Not of It

I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. - John 17:14-15

Christians live in a hostile world. Among and around them are enemies that not only could destroy her, but are meant to and will unless they resist force with yet greater force. The Christian would collapse from sheer external pressure were there not within him a counter-pressure sufficiently great to prevent it. The power of the Holy Spirit is, therefore, not optional but necessary. Without it the children of God simply cannot live the life of heaven on earth. The hindrances are too many and too effective. A Christian is a living organism and is subject to attack from such enemies as prey on living things. Yet the figure of the human body to stand for Christ is not adequate, for the life of the body is non-intelligent, whereas Christians are composed of moral beings having intelligence to recognize their enemies and a will to enable them to resist. The human body can fight its enemies even while it is asleep, but a Christian cannot. They must be awake and determined or they cannot win.


[ Prayer for the Day ]

Lord, help me to be lovingly different in this world. Only by Your Spirit's enablement can I live in it without being of it. I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)