The Lord’s Faithful Witness

James 4:4 (NLT®)
Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?

You may have heard that Christians should be “in the world but not of the world” and thought, “God put me in this world—why shouldn’t I be a part of it?” On the other hand, some Christians separate themselves from the world so much that their influence is limited to people who think just like they do. The Bible does not say we shouldn't go into the world or be among people who don't know the Lord. In fact, it says the opposite. If we don’t go and tell people about Jesus, who will? Our challenge is to live in the world but not become too fond of its values. We don’t want to adopt the world’s attitudes and behaviors, but neither do we want to be so harsh and judgmental that no one will listen to what we say. I encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and mind, to show you where your priorities should be and how you should interact with others. He will help you be the Lord’s faithful witness as you journey through this world.

THINK ABOUT IT
Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). With that kind of protection, we have the strength we need to be effective witnesses for the Lord—wherever we are.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, forgive me for when I have loved the things of this present age, when I've given my heart to them and pursued them. I choose to lay those down and to turn my heart and attention to You, making Jesus Lord of my entire life. In His name, amen.