Look again at the essence of existence of a disciple
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. John 17:15-18 (NIV)
I am not asking that you remove them from the world, but I ask that you guard their hearts from evil, For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do. “Your Word is truth! So, make them holy by the truth. I have commissioned them to represent me just as you commissioned me to represent you. And now I dedicate myself to them as a holy sacrifice so that they will live as fully dedicated to God and be made holy by your truth.” John 17:15-18 (TPT)
The godless world hated them because of it because they did not join the world’s ways, Just as I did not join the world’s ways. I am not asking that you take them out of the world, but that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I am consecrating myself for their sakes so they will be truth-consecrated in their mission. John 17:15-18 (MSG)
Note particularly the different renditions of verse 18, and you clearly see that every believer is commissioned to represent the Lord God, and that representation is our mission. That we do not belong to the world is expressly stated; we neither bow to. nor serve. nor mix with the world (its ways, objectives, and goals).
Apostle Paul further elaborated this in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (MSG)
Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We are Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter God’s work of making things right between them. We are speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; He is already a friend with you.
As God’s colony on earth:
Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I will have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You will be living proof that I did not go to all this work for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16 (MSG)
…we cling tightly to our life-giver, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble bodies and transfigure us into the identical likeness of his glorified body. And using his matchless power, he continually subdues everything to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (TPT)
This is how our lives will be absorbed in His and will begin to transmit His light! Are you clinging tightly? Pastor Afolabi Oladele
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