“In” But Not “Of”

“Do not love the world or anything in the world.

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  

For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man,

the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—

comes not from the Father but from the world.

I John 2:15-16

As we have been looking at the question of staying on Gods’ course for your life we must be aware that you can become so well assimilated into the culture around you; so comfortable with the world; that the result is you love your life more than Gods’ plans.

This is not instantaneous but happens over time.

The good news is it is also reversible.

Maybe this is where you say to yourself – “I know, the answer is to not be part of the world! We need Christian communities that are set apart and separate from everyone else!”

Well, that’s only half right.

We are too be set-apart and separate.

But it is a separation from the culture of the world system that is opposed to God.

We are not separated from the people in the world.

The bible tells us in John 1:15 that:

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…”

Jesus didn’t hide out in a cave nor does He ask us to.

He didn’t walk among people as if they all were contagious with a putrid disease.

He was, as we are called to be, in the world but not of the world.  

So, how do we remain unpolluted by the world?

             Paul tells us the secret in Galatians 5:16 when he says:

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

I can be in the culture but not immersed in that culture.

I do this by being immersed in the Spirit of God.

God sent His promised Holy Spirit to the church on Pentecost.

The Spirit of God is in me to help me live a life that honors God.

A life in the Spirit is a life that runs His course.