“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 (ESV)
When Jesus sent His Disciples out, He used the word apostellō, which is where we get the word apostle. Behold, we are sent out, called to be apostolic (Matthew 10:16).
It is the Good Shepherd who sends us out as sheep among wolves (Matthew 10:16, John 10). Did you catch that? Jesus called us out from our comfort zone, to a dangerous place! We are sent out among dangerous people who are literally trying to kill us. Yes, we’re at war! And it is a dangerous world! Our food, water and air has been poisoned. Apparently even our weather and earthquakes are being manipulated by dangerous people!
Yet in this dangerous world, we are told to be wise as the devil but harmless as the Holy Spirit. Remember, as you step out of your comfort zone, you step into the Holy Spirit zone, because He is called the Comforter (John 14:16 – KJV). The word harmless means to be innocent, simple, unmixed! As we go out as sent ones, we are to be innocent, simple and unmixed as doves. The Good Shepherd will protect you as you stay close to Him in your going!
We are called to show up in the world, but to not be like it (John 16:14, 1 Peter 2:11-12). We are sojourners, exiles, strangers, aliens in this world, but we are not called to hunker down and wait for the rescue rapture. We are given a mission, go (Matthew 28:18-20). We are called to be one’s who turn the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Don’t wait for a safer day! What’s the point of survival if there is no mission? We’re called to live of lives in a risky world. We are called out. We are the sent ones!!!
Get ready, this is the year of the open door! Get ready to move from the threshold through the doors the Lord opens for you. Get ready to get out of your comfort zone into the Holy Spirit zone! Get ready to turn the world upside down!
Thank the Lord for what He has set before you. Ask Him for the courage to wholeheartedly step into it!
