Live in Faithfulness: “not of the world”
“They are not of the world,
(The Gospel According to John 17: 16 NASB)
even as I am not of the world.”
- The Lord Jesus calls us to do what is often difficult.
- The Holy Spirit leads us to trust Him, although we cannot see the full picture.
- Almighty God directs our steps, even when the next step is totally uncertain.
Through all time, through changing circumstances & through seemingly impossible situations—
WE NEED OUR SAVIOR JESUS!
WE NEED GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT!
WE NEED ALMIGHTY GOD!
The clock ticked by, moving us away from December 25 to the 26th, the NEXT day. Just a glance at the calendar proclaimed it so.
CHRISTMAS WAS OVER—until next year.
Christmas was yesterday; it’s gone. As we were preparing dinner, I noticed the countdown counter hanging in the kitchen window, and just as expected, the countdown was finished. Christmas had arrived. The presents had been opened. “Maybe you should keep up the December Christmas countdown calendar and watch as the new months ‘countdown’ to next December,” I voiced to my daughter, who quickly disagreed with my proposal.
“I imagine the countdown calendar will be put away when the other Christmas decorations are stored away after the New Year.
In the Bible, we read how Jesus met with His disciples in the upper room. Jesus knew His hour, His crucifixion, His death was drawing near, so He gathered with His disciples to teach them. Jesus prepared them by praying to Almighty God—for them—His disciples.
- We read and we are reminded how Jesus’ disciples Lived in Faithfulness: “not of the world.”
“But now I come to You;
(The Gospel According to John 17: 13-21 NASB)
and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
I have given them Your word;
and the world has hated them,
because they are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world.
I do not ask You to take them out of the world,
but to keep them from the evil one.
They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them in the truth;
Your word is truth.
As You sent Me into the world,
I also have sent them into the world.
For their sakes I sanctify Myself,
that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
I do not ask on behalf of these alone,
but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
that they may all be one,
even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be in Us,
so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Before the world began, the Father gave His Son all authority. We know the rest of the story, how the multitude of angels came to the shepherds and then how the shepherds went on their way to find the babe in the manger.
- We read the Christmas narrative and we are reminded how the shepherds Lived in Faithfulness: “not of the world.”
We study God’s Word and are reminded how eight days later Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple for His circumcision. We are reminded of the man Simeon who knew God’s promise, how he (Simeon) would not die until he saw the Messiah. We hear through the Scripture Simeon’s song—
“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
(The Gospel According to Luke 2: 29-32 NASB)
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
- We read and we are reminded how Simeon Lived in Faithfulness: “not of the world.”
As we have celebrated the Christmas narrative, we were reminded how Herod sent the Magi to seek out the exact time the star appeared in the sky. Herod sent these wise men to Bethlehem under the pretense of his lie, for we know the truth; Herod did not seek to worship the Messiah but to kill the baby boy who had just been born in the manger.
We know the rest of the story, how God sent His angel to forewarn the wise men, how “the magi left for their own country by another way.” (The Gospel of Matthew 2: 12b NASB)
- Yes, we read and we are reminded how the Magi Lived in Faithfulness: “not of the world.”
So, we bow our heads to pray, asking our Savior to help us in this new year—
“Help us, Lord Jesus, to walk as You would have us go.”
&
We ask the Holy Spirit of God to lead us in this new year—
“Lead us, Holy Spirit, to walk in Faithfulness, to You.”
&
Also in this new year, we ask the Father to guide our steps—
“Help us, Father, to Live in Faithfulness: “not of the world,” but to live just as Your Son Jesus lived.”
Father, we seek to leave a generational legacy of FAITH. Yes, Lord, this is what we seek. Help us pass on our faith in Jesus, help us see the Gospel appointments You orchestrate, and give us boldness to share our testimony of FAITH, just as someone once shared their testimony of FAITH with us.
We pray, Father, for these things. &
We ask, Father, in Your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.”