In the world, but not of the world.
Israel today sits surrounded by nations such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. In Ezekiel's day, the surrounding peoples and nations included Phoenicia, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, and Egypt. Israel has long existed in the midst of other nations. Yet the Lord had called His people to live differently.
""Thus says the Lord GOD: 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.'" Ezekiel 5:5-6
The Lord accused Jerusalem of becoming even more rebellious than the nations surrounding her. What made this especially grievous was that the Lord had revealed His ways to His people, yet they chose not to obey. They weren't simply living in the world; they had chosen to live like the world.
Similarly, we live in the midst of a world that often rejects the ways of the Lord. God has revealed Himself through creation and through His Son, Jesus. We have historical evidence of His crucifixion, and creation itself testifies to its Creator. Yet many still choose not to follow Him. Even as believers, there are times when we choose our own ways over His.
But we don't have to!
Each day presents another opportunity to surrender our hearts to the Lord and follow His leading. Jesus prayed that His followers would remain in the world but not be of the world. We are called to live among people and love them like Christ without conforming to worldly ways that rejects Him.
We can enjoy the good things God has given us in this world without allowing them to take His place in our hearts. Let the kingdom of God be first in our hearts and minds. Let's choose to love the Lord, love others, and live like Jesus.
So, how will you choose to live today?
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.