1 Peter chapter 2 verse 11 says, “Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.”

Quoting from Isaiah chapter 52, Paul says, “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17)

The reason for today’s thought, “Come Out”, is due to the fact that as of today, many of us cannot distinguish the true fellowship of believers. We have those who are an authentic, all in, fruit bearing, light shining lovers of Jesus and then we have those pretenders who say they love Jesus, they say they are followers of The Way, but their lives resemble that of this evil world.  Whether these pretenders are those who side with the homosexuality agenda or with abortion or living my best life now, these characteristics and thought patterns should not be found among a true believer in Jesus. A familiar scripture in Romans is in chapter 12 verse 2 where we have the Apostle Pual warning believers not to copy the behavior and customs of this world. (Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2)

John warns us in 1 John 2:15 by telling us, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” I love how the Enduring Word commentary views this scripture by saying how worldliness which is a sin threatens our relationship with God. It continues to highlight the fact that this world of sinful humanity is united in rebellion against God. So, when a “Christian” acts like the world, talks like the world, has views and opinions like the world, we too are united in rebellion against God.

The bottom line for our thought is the fact that this is a matter of one’s heart, my heart and your heart. Matthew 6:21 tells us, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” When you and I love this world above and over Jesus we are in direct disobedience and in opposition of the Word of God that tells us to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and mind. (Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37) There is no other choice, come out from among them!