How do you live out being in the world, but not of the world? (John 17:14-16).
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kenriquez on November 17, 2009 at 12:32 am
For me, to live in this world but being not of this world is not to conform to this world but to live each day abiding in the Lord’s will.
Few months ago, while I was praying and crying out to God in prayer, He impressed a message in my heart and i begun to write down something like this:
“K, make a difference for Me. Go and stand for Me. Make a difference in people’s lives.”
Despite my imperfections, I believe the Lord Jesus Christ was challenging me to make a difference for Him by walking intimately with Him, seek and stand on His will, hate sin at all costs, don’t give place to compromise, walk in His Spirit and reach out to others with the life-changing message of the Gospel.
All these i cannot do on my own. It is by His grace and praise the Lord because he has given us His Spirit. we need the Spirit of God to empower us to do what he wants and show the world we are different.
Let us live Jesus in our lives.Let us stand for Him.
lmm60 on November 18, 2009 at 10:58 am
I find it harder and harder each day to live in this world. The world I live in in Kenya is very corrupt and it is getting more dangerous every day to live there. When is enough corruption and murder enough in God’s eyes?
tom felten on November 18, 2009 at 11:17 am
Imm60, good question. My heart goes out to you and others who are striving to live a life of love and integrity for Jesus in a corrupt culture. Long before Jesus walked the earth, God’s people had become corrupted (Isaiah 1:4). And, yet, God is His great love reached out to them in love. His love calls to those lost in corruption today (Romans 5:8). Some will turn from their evil and embrace God (Romans 5:10). But, sadly others will continue their course of destruction (Romans 1:18-32). Imm60, I will pray for you and your family. May God give you hope and courage today to continue to reveal his love and light to those around you.
towerguy428 on November 18, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Imm60… Jesus truly loves u and will do the impossible for u. Your light is felt even in my country of the US by me. My problems seem soo small and trivial in light of your situation in Kenya. There is hope and the Lord will make a way for u. PLEASE don’t give up… My heart is filled with pain for u and i know my words are not His and my love is no where near His Love for u. The Lord will use u if u will believe He will. There is soo many hurting people in your country who need Jesus. He WANTS to use u so reach them my friend. His Gospel is filled with hope for the hopeless…Satan will always try kill,steal, and lie it’s all he knows. Feel sad for those people who follow in his ways. There end will be no different than his unless they turn and repent. Micah 6:8 He has showed u, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God… U might be the only witness of Christ those evil men might ever see. Shine my friend your reward in heaven is great and no work for the Lord will ever be in vain. Please read 1 Peter 3:8-22 Suffering for Doing Good…. it really will encourage u my bother in Christ
kenriquez on November 21, 2009 at 10:50 am
Imm60, You are in my prayers as well as your country. Your statement: “When is enough corruption and murder enough in God’s eyes?” similarly echoes the words of the prophet Habakkuk in chapter 1 verses 1-4.
My friend, have faith. there are things we don’t understand, but i encourage you to find strength, hope and comfort in Jesus Christ. His Spirit, the Holy Spirit will empower you stand for Christ, to persevere, to minister to your needs and walk in His loving purpose. God is gracious, powerful and just.let’s trust HIM even in difficult times.
God loves you more than you think He does.
raptureready on November 18, 2009 at 6:08 am
I wake up each morning looking this world right in the eye and I have a choice. I can either get through this day on my own strength or I can admit (choke, choke) that I can’t do it and live up to God’s expectation.
That one command to live in the world but not be of the world is an astounding announcement by God to His children. There is no way I can do this without giving myself completely to the Holy Spirit.
Oops, wait a minute…maybe that is what God has in mind. Maybe he is making this expectation so impossible to meet that we, on our own and in our own way, cannot meet it.
That means we have to depend upon Him to provide us a pathway through this jungle called life. Maybe today if I can visualize the Holy Spirit as a guide with a big machette making a way for me to follow him in this jungle called the world, it will be easier. That does not mean I won’t head off down my own rabbit trail but I can pray that He will call my name to come back to Him and follow the trail he is creating just for me. I think I will try using this today as a way to keep focused on following Him.
lyndygayle on November 18, 2009 at 10:37 am
I agree totally with raptureready. I love the metaphor of the Holy Spirit clearing the path. I won’t forget the image or the message.
fluer on November 19, 2009 at 1:04 pm
To live in this world, but not be of it?
For me it seems that as a believer I am confronted with all the same things non-believers are, and the challenge is to learn how to deal with them differently b/c I have a Savior
As I struggle to figure out my own daily walk and obstacles, I try the best I can to reflect that I too struggle like the world, but that b/c of Christ and His love for me I have a freedom in Him that allows me to have faith that there is something more than just what I see and feel.
Once I allow God into those most inner parts of me, and I experience and taste his healing, grace, and guidance, I try to share that with those He has placed in my life.
I don’t know everything, and a lot of times I don’t feel I understand what God is doing or where He is (imm6 u r not alone), but deep within I know God is who He says He says He is. And I just pray everyday that He would continue to reveal Himself to me, and His plans and purpose for my life.
You r loved imm6. I am sorry you r amongst such despair. May the same God who comforted David, bring His healing love and grace to you. I am sorry u r weary my friend. Be kind to yourself and I pray God will show His kindness to u in a very tangible and personal way.
Lightweaver on November 21, 2009 at 11:29 am
It’s very difficult to be in the world, especially how the world is today and what it has evolved from to its present state.
What have we learned since the pilgrims embarked upon a journey leading them ultimately to what is now the United States of America.
I am in utter despair at times that killing in our streets and the taking of human lives still goes on, that wars are still being waged, that others use their power to inflict their opinions and beliefs to the downtrodden, and hate because religious beliefs aren’t shared by all.
What have we done to our world as we know planet Earth? We’ve ravaged this earth inflicting pain upon its Mother as if when all is said and done, we can pull another out of the clouds to replace it and begin again. How sad that the American Indians were nearly extinct in the name of progress, but why is it no one learned their example of revering this earth.
Yes, I am in this world. My heart and soul are housed in this vessel called a body and like most if not all Christians, I yearn for and await the time that who I am spiritually will at some point be in a place called Heaven where I will dwell with my Father, kneeling at his feet, in company with my beloved Saviour, embraced by my Comforter.
But God isn’t finished yet. We as Christians still have much to accomplish, souls to win, purposes to be fulfilled before our journey’s end. So we realize the high calling of Christ Jesus, purpose our hearts, use the talents God has given us, and march onward as Christian soldiers to finish what was started through the ministry of Christ Jesus.