I have given them your word and the world has hated them,
for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
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 the world. John 17:14-16
We are caught in between two realities
The world and the Kingdom,
The flesh and the spiritual
The world is what we see hear and smell
The battle between the flesh and the spirit is constant
We have people whom we love who may not be of the kingdom,
just like Jesus did
He was surrounded by worldly persons at times
Our loyalties are not to be of this world,
instead, to the Kingdom, to God
It is not easy
There is tremendous pressure from every direction
God’s voice can get drowned out by the cares of this world
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Another realm
Another reality
If we focus on Jesus, when we keep our eyes on Him
and where He is leading us, we will have our balances right
If not, if we long for acceptance from our worldly friends and loved ones,
which is impossible to do and we will displease the Lord
If we bow to that acceptance we want from the world,
we will fail both
Jesus would like us to be one with Him and His people
Spending time with those who are sold out to Christ
will help keep us on track:
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world,
and I come to thee. Holy Father,
keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me,
that they may be one, as we are. John 17:11
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:10
Scriptural References:
And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable?
and how then will ye know all parables?
The sower soweth the word.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown;
but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately,
and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground;
who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time:
afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
And these are they which are sown among thorns;
such as hear the word,
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,
and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word,
and it becometh unfruitful.
And these are they which are sown on good ground;
such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit,
some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark 4:13-20