Our Identity in Christ; Our Identity in contrast to the world
Matthew 6:13, “And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
We have a leader who doesn’t lead us into trials and tests but leads us beside the still waters. We have a deliverer who has released us from the stringent hardships of the law and the hard labor of sin.
This puts us in contrast to those who are still under the law of sin and death like a light in the darkness.
Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
But we are still in the world for now and by outward appearance much like the world. Wheat looks just like darnel until it is harvested. We are now very different from the world but the final revelation of that difference is yet to come.
Matthew 13:24-30, “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
To follow the shepherd sheep must walk and our walk is described in
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
1John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
Of course we don’t always walk the right way trials come to us all but Paul told us that,
1Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
We pray that the Lord won’t lead us into trials because we face enough of them from our own foolishness and from living in the world. But there is use for godliness even in trials.
James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
There is plenty of evil in this world. The Lord told us,
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
All of this is for the Lord’s glory. The world builds its kingdoms, glorifies itself and honors itself but we seek the Kingdom of God and the glory of God and we honor God.
Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
For a little while we live in the world but it is not our home. We are passing through to an eternal city that is ours while the world lives in its home that will soon be taken from them and leave them homeless for eternity.
brotherpayne 