Not Yet Home

They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. (Jn 17:16,18)

(Jesus speaking to the Father about his disciples.)

It seems like there are two ditches that most people fall into in relation to engaging with the world as followers of Jesus.

Either we say “we are not of the world,” and we disengage and put up fences like the Pharisees, as if the corrupting power of the world is stronger than the saving power of Jesus…

OR we are so worried about identifying with the world that we forget that this is not our forever-home, and the ruler of this world is not our forever-king.

Jesus desires that his followers strike a balance: being in the world, but not of the world. We should enthusiastically engaged the broken world around us for the sake of our forever-King and his kingdom. We should live humble lives or faith in the midst of a prideful world of ambition.

Jesus gives us identity as called-out people, designed to conform to his image, and then he sends us out to carry that image to the world he loves and died for.