The World - In It But Not Of It Sample

Jesus prayed for you before He died! He said that his followers are “not of the world.” But he also said, “My prayer, Father, is not that You take them out of the world.” 

This idea of staying “in the world” but not being “of the world” must have been pretty important to Jesus because it was included in His last words on earth. What does “the world” mean, though?

The original New Testament word for “world” is “kosmos” and it has three different meanings in Scripture.

1. "World" can refer to the physical place (which we now know is a planet and which we call Earth) where humankind exists. It is where we live and move about daily. 

2. "World" can also refer to humankind itself. This is the object of God’s love – all the inhabitants of the earth. You are the focus of God’s love. However, "the world" also includes the part of humankind that rejects God’s love. This is what Jesus had in mind when he said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)

3. "World” can also refer to all the material things and abstract ideas that exist on earth. This can include worldly wisdom, worldly ideas, and worldly pursuits that are hostile to God. This “world” is organized by Satan, our spiritual enemy, to keep people alienated from God.

REFLECTION 

Think about all the different areas in your life that you live out daily (student, co-worker, friend, family member, teammate, etc.).  How does the love of Jesus change your thoughts and actions in all these different areas of your life?