[278 words]
John 17 records one of the prayers of Jesus. In John 17:15, Jesus says, “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world but to keep them from the evil one.” He goes on to say in John 17:16, “They are not of the world, even as l am not of the world!” In the world, but not of it! What a challenging concept!
Have you ever thought about why the Lord does not take us out of this crooked and perverse world as soon as we are saved? The answer is simple: He has a purpose of us here!
We Are Here For His Sake. He wants us to carry out the work He himself came to do. He described that work in Luke 19:10 as seeking and saving the lost. He said in John 20:21, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”
We Are Here For Others’ Sake. Most people in this world are not interested in their own spiritual welfare. The god of this world has blinded their minds to keep them from seeing the danger they are in. So We are left in the world to carry the Gospel to as many people as possible.
We Are Here For Our Own Sake. The Christian life is a maturing process. We must “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). This world is our school room for our lifetime. The Gospel does not promise escape from problems, but power to overcome them (Philippians 4:13).
We are in the World…but not of it!
Bobby Dockery
Hooker, OK