In This World, Not of It - Day 152 Month 6-1 Week 22-5

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Joshua 10,11, Psalm 119:145-160, Jeremiah 32:16-44, John 17:13-26

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2010%2C11%2C%20Psalm%20119%3A145-160%2C%20Jeremiah%2032%3A16-44%2C%20John%2017%3A13-26&version=NASB1995


In This World, Not Of It


“They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.”   This statement is made by Jesus as He is praying for His disciples.


I have talked often about the kingdom of God and how Jesus followers, through faith, hold a passport for the kingdom of God.  Once the decision is made to follow Jesus, your permanent residence is in God’s kingdom.  It’s a powerful truth.  However, Jesus does not say His disciples leave this world immediately but rather He sends them into the world (John 17:18) just like Jesus was sent into the world.


This means we represent Jesus in a world that is in a continuous decline.  We’re seeing wars and world leaders that are causing a lot of trouble around the globe yet we are still sent into the world to bring love.  Through God’s love we reach out to a fallen world and through that supernatural love, more and more people are drawn into the kingdom of God.


Now, this fallen world may seem hopeless but as we see in our reading in Joshua, when God is for you, the battle is already won.  What may seem like big battles right now, God will turn into good and the kingdom of God will stand forever. 


This writing today may appear to be focused on the person who is already a Jesus follower (disciple) and it is, partly.  However, it’s also for the person who has not chosen to follow Jesus yet.  I am here as one of Jesus’ disciples and I am in this world to love others to the point where they want to be part of God’s kingdom.  The reason I write this blog is to be able to speak openly about what I believe that others may respond to the same Jesus I responded to at the age of eleven.  It’s never too late to place your trust in Him! If you have read this far today, maybe it’s time for you to respond as well.  Remember from John 3:16, God sent Jesus into the world because He loves the world.  All it takes is authentic belief in Jesus (even if it’s the size of a mustard seed), and that He died for the sins of the world in our place and was resurrected so that we can have a new life of freedom in Him.  It means we recognize our reliance on ourselves (sin nature) to be “good enough” and turn to follow Jesus from this point forward.


If this writing today spoke to you and you would like to make that decision, please contact me.  My email is below or you can comment on the blog.  I look forward to hearing from you.


Have a great day!

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com


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