Category: The Goodness of God, The Father

In It, But Not of It: Huh? Part 2

Last month, we looked at Jesus’ words to the disciples in John 15:18-21, where He said,

“If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. Remember what I told you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name because they do not know the one who sent me.”

We concluded how:

  • Sometimes Jesus’ statements are hard to grasp or accept.
  • Jesus equates those who have accepted Him with Himself.
  • Jesus suggests a mind shift to now seeing ourselves as not a part of this world, although we live here.
  • This “spirit of the world” opposes the Spirit of God. It does not know God or accept Jesus Christ’s ways, teachings, or message. It hates God and His Son, Jesus.
  • We too will experience hatred and opposition as His disciples. We should expect this and not seek any comradery with or acceptance by the world.

In continuing this discourse about “not being of the world,” in John 17, we find Jesus this time talking to His Father, God about it. He prays in verses 13-19, 

“But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world. Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.”

Jesus knows He is about to physically leave them. He confirms with God how the disciples: (1) now belong to Him because they accepted His truthful words; (2) were sent out to proclaim His word, and they went; and (3) they no longer belong with the world but are now with and for Him and God. On this basis then, Jesus asks the Father: not to take them out of the world; to set them apart from the world (or distinguish them) by the truth; and to protect and keep them from the evil one or evil spirit that runs the world. Again, Jesus equates the disciples with Himself, “[Father] they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”  God sent Jesus; Jesus sends us. The preservation Jesus asks for is about a distinction Christians should have and a work for which they were chosen–to proclaim God’s kingdom and Jesus’ message of being Savior of the world.  They needed divine power, protection, and sanctifying grace for this.

So, Jesus commits them to the custody and care of God. But it’s not just for them. He continues in vss. 20-23,

“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one–I in them and you in me–that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.”

That’s us, folks! 😊 One day, we heard or read the disciples’ testimony about Jesus Christ in the Bible, or someone told us; we believed and accepted it. So, we too, are called out of the world and sent into it with a specific message to share. We unite with other believers to testify of God’s love and show forth Jesus’ oneness with God. Others will also believe and glorify God as we proclaim Jesus’ message in the world.  For such, we’re in it, but not of it.

Author and Pastor Ray Stedman agrees about not being a part of the world. He writes on his Ray Stedman Daily Devotion website a devotion titled, “The Way of Health” at https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/nehemiah/the-way-of-health, “We must never forget that we are in the world but not of it. We are never to settle down here for good. I love the way C. S. Lewis has put it: ‘Our kind heavenly Father has provided many wonderful inns for us along our journey, but he takes special care to see that we never mistake any of them for home.’ We are pilgrims and strangers, passing through this world. We are involved in it, deeply sometimes, but we are never to see ourselves as a part of it.”

May we receive the grace to understand and accept this truth from Jesus while still here. May we unite as never before as the early church did–sharing the message of the Gospel of Christ, keeping the unity of the faith, and staying close together.

Blessings until next time! 😊 

GOD is good–all the time!

“God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.” How true this saying is. It’s God’s very nature to only be and show His goodness. As such, goodness is what Jesus demonstrated to others when He was here. Let’s follow Him!

A cliché, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good” is one I hear many people saying quite frequently as I go about my day—even by people I never met. I know among my race, a lot of the women many times jovially, loudly, and joyously greet one another with this saying. Whoever was the first to proclaim it and begin its circulation started a good thing, because it is true. It’s one thing to say it, however, and another to really experience it. But everyone can know God’s goodness without measure because He lavishes in goodness and mercy.

Surely, the Bible, especially the Psalms, proclaims God as being good. It’s His nature. It’s not surprising then to hear in Acts 10:38 from Peter —a disciple who frequently traveled with Jesus–say, “With respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil because God was with him.” So, you see, while here, Jesus wasn’t walking around living “high on the hog,” with his chest out and head lifted arrogantly high bragging about being God’s son. No! Jesus was living among people doing good for them.

Can you imagine always being and doing good and never having an evil or bad day? I wish, but we can’t, not here on Earth. Nonetheless, this is who God the Father is, and what Jesus Christ did for all people, all the time. Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit’s anointing and power to be this way. Wow!

It’s God’s goodness that chased you down and offered you His Son, Jesus Christ, whom you have accepted, or if not yet, you CAN receive right now if you believe the testimony about Him. Let’s follow Jesus and avail ourselves of this anointing and power from God’s Holy Spirit to be and do good to others. Surely, evil situations are escalating in our world so much so, the need is great for good people to emerge and apply a healing voice or touch to the situation.

I do not own any rights to this music.

CeCe Winans, also, in her “Believe for It” album sings about this Goodness of God. Listen! Thank Him! Spread it–God’s kind of goodness, that is! 🙂

Be blessed until next time.

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