In the World, But not of It

 

“In the World, But Not of It”

Scripture Readings:

• John 15:19 – “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

• John 17:14–16 – “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world... They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

• James 1:27 – “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

We live in a world filled with distraction, distortion, and deception—but also with souls who desperately need Jesus. We are called to walk a narrow road. On one side is compromise with the world; on the other is isolation from the mission field. The challenge is this: How do we reach a lost world without losing ourselves in it?

Chosen but Not Removed

Jesus was clear: “I chose you out of the world” (John 15:19). Yet in John 17:15, He prayed, “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”

This shows us something powerful: Jesus never intended for us to retreat from the world, but to be protected while actively engaged in it.

The early church did not live in monasteries—they walked the streets of pagan cities, preached in marketplaces, and testified before kings. But they did so with holiness in their hearts and eternity in their eyes.

Citizens of Another Kingdom

Philippians 3:20 reminds us: “Our citizenship is in heaven.” That means our values, our language, our desires—should reflect heaven’s culture, not this world's.

The problem isn't being in the world. The problem is when the world starts getting in us.

Think of a boat in the water—it’s designed to float in the sea. But once the water gets in the boat, it starts to sink. Likewise, once the world's values fill our hearts, our witness begins to sink.

The Mission Requires Presence

We are called to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). That means being present in schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and even online spaces. Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors not to endorse their sin—but to extend them grace.

Evangelism without engagement is impossible.

But engagement without holiness is dangerous.

We must be like Daniel in Babylon—immersed in the culture but untainted by it. He worked in the palace of a pagan king, but still prayed with his windows open toward Jerusalem. He served faithfully without compromising his identity.

Keeping Ourselves Unspotted

James 1:27 adds a crucial truth: true religion is not only service—it is separation from sin. “To keep oneself unspotted from the world” is not about legalism—it’s about love. We love God too much to let our hearts be stained by the things that grieve Him.

This means we must be careful about what we watch, what we celebrate, what we participate in. Not because we’re better than others, but because we belong to Someone else.

Holiness is not a prison—it’s protection.

The Balance: Contact Without Contamination

So, how do we live in this tension?

• We immerse ourselves in God’s Word daily to keep our minds renewed (Romans 12:2).

• We cultivate godly friendships to keep our hearts accountable.

• We serve others selflessly, so our faith is not just private but public.

• And we pray constantly—asking God to keep us clean vessels, useful for His mission.

We must be bridges to Christ, not barriers. But we must also be filters, not sponges.

What about Us Today?
Jesus has sent us into the world as His ambassadors—but never alone. He has given us His Spirit to guide us, His Word to sanctify us, and His church to strengthen us.

So today, let us recommit to walking this fine line: in the world but not of it. Engaged but not entangled. Active, but always abiding.

Let’s win the world for Christ—without losing our witness.

• Where in your life are you too distant from the world to make a difference?

• Where are you too close to the world to remain unspotted?
  Ask God to give you both a clean heart and a burdened heart—one that loves purity, and one that aches for the lost.

More: Lesson 10 - Upon Whom the Ends Have Come