Read John 17:13-19. Circle the word(s) that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Reflections on the Word.
Who wants to be the odd one out or known as the misfit? I know that I don’t want to be different than everyone else! We want to be liked. We want to be accepted by our peers, our community, and our culture. We don’t want to be rejected.
When you and I come to saving faith in Christ by believing that He died for our sin and rose from the dead, there was a radical transformation that took place in our hearts. We were born again, brought from death to life, but there is much more. We are no longer citizens of this world. Your ID card and stamp of citizenship on your spiritual passport has changed: Child of God and Citizen of Heaven.
Jesus said this, 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world” (NIV). And yet, we keep thinking and conducting ourselves as being a child of this world and a citizen of this world. It’s no wonder that many of us are ineffective and stuck in our faith. We need to stop and ask ourselves, “Who am I?” and “Where is my citizenship?”
I’m sorry to tell you, but you can’t have both. There is no dual citizenship. Jesus makes it very clear that we are no longer of this world even though we are still in this world. If we hold onto the words of Jesus, the world will view you as a foreigner and perhaps even an enemy. Unfortunately, many believe that since you are not standing with them, it automatically means that you are standing against them. There is no middle ground, no neutral parties, and no discussion.
Let’s ask ourselves, are we living more like a citizen of this world, or do we resemble and exemplify being a follower of Christ and citizen of heaven? Where will you stand today?
-Kingston