As Christians, there are many times during the day we need to be setting the example to the world how it is to be a Christian. There are also times when we just get so frustrated and slip up and fly off the handle. I know I do, anyway. I then have to go back and apologize for my actions and that is not always comfortable. I do strive to set a good example and because I am human it doesn’t always happen. But you know what? I am a child of the King and He is a forgiving King/Father. I can pray for His forgiveness, and He grants it … as long as my heart is truly repentant and sorry for doing whatever it was. I just ask Him for His strength to correct any wrong I may have caused along the way.
I know this world is crazy hard sometimes. But our Father calls us to a higher standard. We are in the world, but we must not be “of” the world. Jesus Himself prayed a beautiful prayer of protection for His disciples just before He left this world.
John 17:6-19 – 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,[b] that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world,[c] I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept;[d] and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” (Read the entire chapter here).
Jesus asked the Father to protect them (the disciples) in the world and that they were “not” of the world but in the world. I believe we can claim this prayer that Jesus said for his disciples for ourselves as well. The following versus speak to the believers that will follow because of the disciples.
John 17:20-21 – 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will[e] believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
So likewise, we should be… in the world but not of the world… so the world will know that we are His.
So, what does this really mean? I believe it means simply live as close to the way Jesus lived as possible. Do not follow the ways of the world. Do not live with sinful desires and lusts. Do not lie, cheat, steal, etc. Also, the things that some folks have trouble with is gossip, flying off the handle and slipping up of the tongue, and temper, anger, bitterness, hatred, etc. There are many more, but I think you get the picture. It’s not easy to live as Jesus lived sometimes, but He left the Holy Spirit to help us.
John 14:15-18 – 15 “If you love Me, keep[a] My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
When we find a difficult spot in life, call out to Him. Jesus, God or the Holy Spirit. They will be right there to help! I have done it many times.
Like I said, I know this world is hard. You don’t have to go it alone though. There is Someone to help you always! He loves you so much and wants to hear from you. Good times or bad. Anytime! He loves you and calls you His beloved!
Leah
le**@my*******.com
This is really a good one ! Well all are good .