Be Ye Separate

As a believer do you ever find it hard to be in the world but not of the world?  What do you think this means in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’”

Paul urged believers not to build binding relationships with non-believers so they would not get into any compromising situations that could cause them to stumble in their commitment to the Lord.  They should be separated, but not isolated, because if you isolate yourself you wouldn’t have many opportunities to witness and to let your light shine before the non-believer.  

In a world of temptations and moral decay we need to not conform to the society’s way of thinking but we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds through the Word of God.  World standards and Christian standards are so different in many ways that Christians stand out if they don’t compromise. The Word says this in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

When believers start compromising and allow sin to invade their life their light starts losing its luster and starts to become very dim and people cease to be drawn to it.  Many times believers get into relationships with non-believers thinking they can change them only to find themselves the ones that have been changed by compromising their convictions.  If our light is shining bright we can start transforming the world and not be transformed by the world.

Read what it says in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

This does not only mean to separate yourself from sinners, but it means to draw close to the Lord each day.  This means to avoid everything that may cause you to sin and also how you spend your time and even your finances.  It is very hard to live in this world with its seductions and temptations without being faced with them but we have a responsibility to resist them and to live godly lives.  We need to stand strong in the faith and never give up or give into our fleshly desires that would cause us to sin.

I am typing this on Thanksgiving morning and I want to wish all who read this a blessed day.  I hope this will be a help to someone and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!