Set Apart – Strangers In the World

By Rose H.

 To God's elect, strangers in the world

An interesting choice of words. Strangers in the world.

When I think of the word stranger I think of someone I don’t know at all. Someone I’m not familiar with. Shouldn’t that be our attitude toward the world? We shouldn’t be dwelling on what the world dwells on. Our thoughts and hearts should be set to God. Romans 16:19 (NIV) But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. In regard to the evil, gossip, and sin of the world, we should be innocent of it.

Yet this doesn’t mean we become isolationists. Although we are called to be strangers to evil, we are also called to be in the world. We are still called to shine the light into this dark world.

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Yet how do we do that without becoming involved in the things that the world is interested in?  By living the life the set apart life. When we don’t do as the world does, they will wonder why. They’ll ask questions. When you are in a tense situation and you don’t flare up, they’ll ask. When you are kind to the elderly woman even if she’s cranky, they’ll ask. When you make your family the best friends you have, they’ll ask. When you have love for others, they’ll ask. When our whole lifestyle is set apart to Him, people will notice and wonder what makes us different.

This is how we live in the world, but not of it. Let us strive to live our lives for Him, give of ourselves for Him, and live as shining strangers here.