Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 239

August 27;       John 17:16:       85/260(III);       ‘Not of This World’

John 17:16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

The Word of God is so incredible.  John 17, records a prayer Jesus is praying to His Father.  It is so sacred.  The Lord Jesus is praying this prayer for not only His disciples, but for all of us as well (verse20).  This verse excites me greatly.  The longer we walk with the Lord and are serious about our fellowship with Him, the less this world means to us.  The word ‘world’ means the values and philosophies the world system follows at any given time in history.  What they say is important.  The things of the Lord Jesus are never part of what the world system embraces.  Jesus said His Word is truth.  The Word teaches us what life is according to the Lord.   Our relationships, our character, our treatment of others, our work ethic, our priorities, what is important to us based on what the Word says are all covered in the Word.  Virtually everything the Word teaches is contrary to the world system.  Not being of the world is freedom.  We do not take a ‘holier than thou’ smugness toward those who do not know Jesus, but a courteous and confident lifestyle that pleases the Lord.  If we are ‘regular’ and treat others with the love Jesus treats us with, those who are not yet born again, may think we are strange, but the more they observe what we say and do, they will clearly see what we have works.  Being always joyful.  Never being critical or gossiping.  Always there to help, gives opportunity to share the Word and help others become, like you, not of this world.