You are not of the world but of God • Deshen Daily

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (Jn. 17:16 NAS)

Part of the reason why the Jews couldn’t stand the teachings of Jesus was because of the claims He made of Himself. They count not stand hearing Jesus, whom they thought they knew, say He was the Son of God. Another claim which made them furious, was Jesus’ claim that He was not of the world. He said “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world (Jn. 8:23 NAS). The Jews were “from below”, “of this world”. He was “from above”, “not of this world”.

Jesus came from heaven, from God. He goes further in mesmerizing His disciples by saying of them “They (the disciples) are not of the world, even as I am not of the world”. We might feel more comfortable today saying “Jesus is not of this world”. Our difficulty has shifted-it is accepting what Jesus says we are, that is, we are not of this world, just like Him. Whoever is in Christ is a new creation, born by the Spirit and coming from above. That means the life that runs in you is not the natural life, but the divine life. You were made of heavenly material. Do not be deceived by the physical body you are still carrying. It will soon vanish away, and then the fullness of what God made of us will be revealed. You are not of this world. You are born from above. The rules that govern your life are the principles of heaven.

MEDITATE

The above scripture presents an obvious challenge to our minds. It is not the difficulty interpreting what it says, but accepting what it is saying. This is grace. Meditate on who you are in Christ. Think on that verse above. Declare it to yourself again and again that you are not of this world.

PRAY

Thank God for making you from above, and not from below. Ask Him to make you more conscious of your heavenly affiliations that your early connections.

ACT NOW!

Let this truth cause a change in the way you talk and act. If you are not of this world, it means your health, finances and well-being are not governed by the economic, physical or social circumstances of this world. When the world is afraid and speaks fear, do not talk like them. You are different. We all live on the earth, but not under the same canopy. You are born of God. Be bold and confident as you live today.