{"id":27212,"date":"2025-04-07T05:42:31","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T09:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nehemiah.pivotdev.com\/blog\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2025-04-14T04:52:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T08:52:41","slug":"in-world-but-not-of-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/devotionals\/in-world-but-not-of-it\/","title":{"rendered":"In The World, But Not Of It","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGUE<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant by \u201cbe in the world but not of it?\u201d
Are you in the world?\u00a0
Have you been able to remain untainted by the world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI do not pray that you should take them out of the world,
but that you should keep them from the evil one.\u201d<\/em>
\u2013 John 17:15<\/a> (NKJV)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In The World, But Not Of It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Growing up, I rejected Christianity, due to the fact that I did not see its relevance in the real world. From my worldly perspective, the Christians I knew seemed to be either so \u201cheavenly-minded that they were no earthly good\u201d<\/em>, or else they were trying to be so \u201crelevant to real life\u201d<\/em> that there seemed to be no difference between their lives and mine \u2013 their actions seemed to contradict the very Gospel that they preached<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wonder how many people reject Christ every day for the same reasons that I did?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 1994 something happened. I met a Christian businessman who reached out to me in a way that I could relate to.\u00a0 He demonstrated authentic Christianity, and he introduced me to the Gospel \u2013 and to Jesus Christ. Since that encounter, my life has never been the same.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would have never met that Christian businessman had he not come into my world.\u00a0 We as Christians sometimes isolate ourselves from the world, without realizing that the world will not come to us \u2013 if the Great Commission is to be fulfilled, then we must go to them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the prayer that is recorded in John 17<\/strong>, Jesus prayed for many things. One major focus of His prayer was His disciples, and He also prayed for those of future generations who would also believe in him. He prayed, not that His disciples would be taken out of the world, but that they would be kept from the evil one while in the world.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus understood that if His disciples were to fulfill the mission that He had given them, then they would need to remain in the world \u2013 not withdraw from it. That is why the Great Commission states, \u201cGo ye into all the world\u201d<\/em> (Mark 16:15) \u2013<\/strong> not \u201cWithdraw ye from all the world\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does it mean to \u201cbe in the world, but not of it\u201d<\/em>?\u00a0 It means to be engaged with the people and institutions in the communities where we reside and to remain active in the world\u2019s affairs, without being influenced in ungodly ways by them<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means that, wherever we find ourselves, we are to use our gifts, skills, and abilities to serve people while glorifying Christ and spreading the Gospel and the values of the Kingdom of God<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Matthew 5:13-16<\/strong>, Jesus explains the expectations that He has of His followers in relation to their interaction with, and influence in, the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? <\/em>
<\/em>It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. <\/em>
<\/em>\u201cYou are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.\u00a0 <\/em>
<\/em>Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, <\/em>
<\/em>and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, <\/em>
<\/em>that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.\u201d <\/em>
<\/em>\u2013 Matthew 5:13-16 (NKJV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens if we withdraw from the world?<\/strong> According to Matthew 5:13-16<\/strong> :<\/p>\n\n\n\n