In The World

Given July 18, 2006

My wife and I, along with our two younger sons, went on our first cruise this week. It was a wonderful experience. We were treated like royalty, the food was great, we had many choices of activities and places to visit, and had some quality time with the boys. However, I was reminded that we were still, "in the world" and many of the activities on board were of the "wordly" variety. You know; drinking, "off color" entertainment, bad language, etc.

I realized I'm not around that stuff very much on a daily basis and I don't like being around it. But that's where the witnessing opportunities are. Jesus didn't screen himself from the "other side" of His society. He got right in there with them but was without sin. He said about His disciples, "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, John 17: 15-16".

We are not "of the world" either but we live in the world and have to deal with what's here every day. It would be great to just go live in Heaven but Jesus wants us to be protected from the evil while we're here so we can do the work He's called us to do. And that work can't be done inside our comfort zone.

I also realized that I need strength to resist the temptations the world offers in order to stay strong in the Spirit and do God's work. It's hard living in this world but we've been given the tools of the Spirit to be successful. Let's use 'em!