Sent Into The World

 "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, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."

— John 17:15-18

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Your prayer wasn't to move us from the world. We are, it seems, stuck in this world. But you are more intentional than that. You didn't leave us just to be stuck in this world. You first prayed for our protection from the evil one while we live in this world. The Father's protection over us keeps us from the harm and destruction of the evil one. Nothing that comes to us hasn't first passed through Your loving hands.

Second, you remind us that though we are in the world, we are not of it. We are citizens of Heaven (Phil. 3:20). This world is not our home.

Third, you prayed that we would be sanctified (set apart) by your truth. Your Word is truth and every time I read it, I am sanctified further.

Finally, you announced that as the Father sent you into the world, you have sent us into the world. Now, we are no longer simply "stuck" in the world, we are sent into the world. This world needs our protected, sanctified, called lives! This world needs believers in Jesus Christ to live as pilgrims and sojourners among them; living with the culture of Heaven, our true home, in distinctly different ways that reflect our home culture.

While we live in this world, we must not conform to this world (Romans 12:2) but live in contrast to the patten of this world. The only way we can do that is to sanctified by Your Word and by Yourself (17:19) that we can be truly set apart and sent into this world that so desperately needs You!

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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