In this world, but not of this world....

Someone recently posed this question and I felt myself replying with rote answers- In it but not a part of it, spirit driven not flesh etc so mulled a little more. On a day to day personal level what does it mean to me? How am I required to live?

We are constantly bombarded with the rules of this world. It is constantly modeled for us how we should feel, think and act in everyday circumstances. Mainstream novels, movies, sit coms, magazines, music on the radio, the workplace, supermarket, bus shelter.

The rules as I see it are:
1. Me, me, me. I can occasionally reach out to others but my primary focus is me me me. if I do reach out to others I need to make sure that everyone knows so that they will think more highly of me me me.

2. When me me me misses out on anything I think I should have been able to have, I can do two things: be a good sport and congratulate the other person who receives what I should have got, or fight for what is mine. In either case I will feel hurt, sad, frustrated, angry, disappointed, jealous or any combination of these and I have the right to feel this way.

3.I should be able to have anything I want. It is a right. If I am smart, business savvy, pretty, athletic then I am entitled to even more. If I don't get what I deserve (and I think I deserve everything) then life is not fair. Then I am entitled to feel depressed, angry, jealous, sad etc and justified in feeling this way.

We see these rules played out everywhere every day!! Talk to anyone with any childcare/ teaching/ psychology training and they will tell you that when we see, hear, think things repeatedly that behaviour/ thought/ feeling is reinforced. So we live in a world where these things are constantly reinforced.

But here's the crunch. While walking in/ amongst this I have called to be "not this". I have been called to be different- my Father has given me a new mind. Provided me with armour that will protect my mind and heart and blood to cleanse when I slip up.And His spirit within me to guide and teach and nourish and counsel and.... He has commanded me to be light in darkness. With Him everything must be turned upside down. It is the reverse of what the world shows. In weakness there is strength. In death to self there is life. Darkness is only the absence of light. I can be poor but so rich. I have only to ask and He will give me wisdom, strength. And I am always loved with a passion.

So, on a daily basis- I know that my Father has my life in His hands and wants me- every moment of every day to do my best to walk in His ways. To love others. To share His love. To block out the me me me mentality and to look for opportunities to share and love and serve. To see obstacles as opportunities. To actively control my mind and tongue and challenge and take captive those thoughts and words that are of the world. To actively screen what I pay attention to in the way of books, magazines, movies, gossip,television. A huge task but if I take each moment as it comes and draw on all of the resources my Father has given me....maybe a little closer each day.

In this world...but not of this world.