In It, Not Of It
The first few moments of being in a different country can be incredibly overwhelming. The sights and sounds are overstimulating —like every sense is on ‘high-alert’ trying to adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings.
When you return home, all those heightened senses are settled by the comforts of familiarity.
The truth is, the world we live in should feel a bit like a foreign country, shouldn’t it? But all too often it feels like home; we have gotten comfortable here — too familiar, too settled. Many of us are so immersed in this way of life, that we have forgotten the life in Christ we have been called to… “out of darkness into marvelous light.”
“Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.” – 1 Peter 2:11
At pureHOPE, we talk a lot about culture and how it has the power to influence our lives. Culture literally means “cultivation of the soul.” Pretty powerful. This, in-and-of-itself, should put us on ‘high-alert’. The enemy is using every element of our culture to wage war against our souls, manipulating the hearts and minds of young and old, alike. We are being bombarded from every angle with distorted views of identity, sex and relationships— all of which impact us at a soul-level.
Psalm 123:1 says “To You I have raised my eyes, you who are enthroned in the heavens!”
It goes on to say “…our soul has had much more than enough…”
Has your soul had enough? Lift up your eyes.
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
– Colossians 3:1-3
As we seek Jesus, the truth of His word becomes the ultimate authority that leads our life; it has the power to comfort and cultivate our soul.
May we become increasingly discontented by the darkness in this world. May we incline our hearts, lift our eyes, and set our minds on the things that are above. May the power of God’s word – not our culture – cultivate our souls. And, may we resist the temptation to be comfortable here, but rather long for the city — His kingdom —which is to come.
“For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” – Hebrews 13:14