How can believers live as "not of this world" in daily life? Key Passage “I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I have also sent them into the world.” Setting the Scene • Jesus is praying on the night before the cross, interceding for every believer. • Twice He repeats, “they are not of the world,” linking our identity to His own. • He does not ask for escape from the world, but protection and sanctification within it. What “Not of This World” Means • Different origin: Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). • Different nature: We have been born again by imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:23). • Different loyalty: We serve a heavenly King whose kingdom is not from this world (John 18:36). • Different destiny: Present lives point toward an eternal inheritance that cannot fade (1 Peter 1:4). Daily Practices That Mark Us as “Not of This World” 1. Cultivate a Renewed Mind – Feed on Scripture daily (Romans 12:2). – Memorize and meditate on passages that confront worldly thinking. 2. Choose Holiness Over Conformity – Say no to moral compromise (1 Peter 1:14-16). – Guard entertainment, speech, and relationships with the filter of God’s holiness. 3. Prioritize Eternal Investments – Use time, talents, and treasure to further the gospel (Matthew 6:19-21). – Give generously, viewing possessions as stewardship rather than ownership. 4. Display Christlike Love – Forgive quickly, even when wronged (Ephesians 4:32). – Serve neighbors and coworkers sacrificially (Galatians 6:10). 5. Embrace the Mission Field – Share the reason for your hope with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). – Live distinctly so your life prompts curiosity about the Savior. 6. Walk in Dependence on the Spirit – Start each day consciously yielding to the Spirit’s leading (Galatians 5:16-25). – Listen for His conviction and correction, responding immediately. Common Challenges and Biblical Responses • Pressure to blend in – Remember you are “chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). • Fear of rejection – Jesus said, “If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first” (John 15:18). • Weariness in well-doing – “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap” (Galatians 6:9). Encouragement for the Journey • You are kept: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). • You are being shaped: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). • You are sent: “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Living “not of this world” is not withdrawal; it is purposeful presence—rooted in truth, empowered by the Spirit, and directed toward an eternal horizon. |
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