Not Of This World

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Saturday morning, the 8th of July, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.  

We start in Colossians 3:1-2: 

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
2 Corinthians 5:17

As new people in Christ Jesus, we need to be in the world but we don't have to get involved with the things of this sad and depraved system. We need to be different. We cannot be part of two camps. You cannot hunt with the hounds one day and run with the hares the next day. As a new believer, I distinctly remember saying to the minister of our church, "I do not want to lose my old friends in this world", because I was a wild man when I was in the world. He smiled gently and said, "Angus, you will not lose them. Unfortunately, they will lose you." It's very sad but it's true. Your very presence makes them feel uneasy, makes them feel convicted and they would rather you leave than hang around because they cannot tell their filthy jokes and swear and do depraved things when you are present. It is like you are salt and it burns them. Matthew 12:30 says: 

"He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."

You say, "But I feel so lonely. I have got no friends." No, no, don't worry. The Holy Spirit will send you honest, sincere, loving friends who will stick with you through thick and thin. You don't need fair-weather friends. You know what they are like - when the sun is shining, they are there with you, but they disappear into the mist when dark clouds come over. That is not funny, it's true. I have experienced it in my own life many times. You need friends who will stick with you through thick and thin, and they will have the same heart as you because they have the same God that you are worshipping.  

So Jesus bless you today as you stand firm and walk away from the things of this world and start concentrating on things that have eternal value. 

Jesus bless you and goodbye.