"All of us also lived among them at one time...." (Ephesians 2:3a, NIV)
We did.
The Holy Spirit is reminding us in previous verses from what we came, "you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world...." But now what?
I pray none reading this are still, "liv[ing] among them...." Of course, as Paul told the Corinthians, this does not mean that we avoid living around the nonbelievers, "....in that case you would have to leave the world." The call of the Holy Spirit today is also found in the prayer of Jesus, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." And you and I know that this same, "evil one...walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." The Biblical reminder is a constant.
Later verses of Ephesians 2, however, tell us of the surpassing victory we have in Jesus Christ, "God...raised us up together with Christ.., in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace...in Christ Jesus." And indeed it was only Jesus', "incomparable... grace," which brought you and me into His Heavenly Kingdom, "the Household of Faith," names written in, "the Lamb's Book of Life," to abide in the Godhead in the, "many mansions," for eternity.
Father, in Jesus' Name, "keep (me) from the evil one," to no longer, "live[] among them." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
