John 17:14-19 (The Message)
14 I (Jesus) gave them(the disciples) your word; The godless world hated them because of it, Because they didn't join the world's ways, 15 Just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that you take them out of the world But that you guard them from the Evil One. 16 They are no more defined by the world Than I am defined by the world. 17 Make them holy - consecrated - with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. 18 In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. 19 I'm consecrating myself for their sakes So they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission.
Prepositions are important little words. They hold the big words together and give them direction. i.e. “…that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the face of the earth.”
We are called to be IN the world but not OF the world. This does not mean we negate the world, have no fun, know no joy. It means we have a different perspective by which we see the world. It means we are being consecrated in the truth that God loves us, calls us, challenges us to live so that in all we say and do something of God’s love is present.
"Let us astound them,
before all words,
by our way of life."
John Chrysostom, 4th century
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, make my life astounding…to others.”
No comments:
Post a Comment