Living On A Mission

Living on a Mission

John 17:13-19, NLT

Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

Setting the Scene

The world hates Christ-followers. Because Christians don’t cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they are living accusations against the world’s immorality. Thus believers have to endure hatred and opposition.

Like Jesus, the disciples didn’t “belong to the world” but to God. Jesus asked the Father “to keep them safe from the evil one,” not to isolate them from the world. They wouldn’t be removed from evil people and temptations but were to resist evil. This would happen by making them “holy by [God’s] truth.” The word holy means “set apart.” Thus Jesus was saying that his followers needed to live in the world but differently from the world in the way they thought and acted—set apart and focused on doing God’s will. This happens when believers understand and apply God’s truth.

Jesus came “into the world” on a mission for the Father; so he sent these disciples “into the world” on a mission. Jesus did not pray that the disciples would be removed from the hatred and persecution to come, rather that they would be protected through the difficult circumstances from falling prey to the devil. The only way believers can be witnesses to the world is to be witnessing for Christ in the world.

Getting Personal

When have you been tempted to withdraw from nonbelievers or to avoid them? Why?

How does God’s Word set us apart? How does God fill us with his joy?

What makes living in the world so difficult for Christ-followers?

At times, Christians have tried to withdraw from the world, living in isolated communities or restricting their relationships and associations to other believers. Given the differences from the world, we can understand that reaction, but it’s not God’s way. His mission for us is to be a positive, dynamic influence for him. And he wants us to live with joy. He doesn’t remove us from evil but delivers us (Matthew 6:13) by giving us the power to resist, through his Word and Holy Spirit.

Talking to God

The mission of all believers depends on our living in a holy way. Ask the Lord to set you apart in your attitudes and actions, so that in glorifying him in everyday ways you will make a difference for his Kingdom in this world.