2 Cor 6.13-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The Lord calls His people out of the world. He calls us to be holy and separate. But never are we to interpret that to mean that we avoid at all costs any contact with the lost. We are in the world, but not of the world. Jesus tells us that His disciples are to be salt and light. In other words, we are to be making an impact in our society for the kingdom of God and the glory of His Name.

To be a witness for Christ requires us to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Every single day, you and I as followers of Jesus Christ are living in a world that is at war with God, His Son, His gospel and His people. It is in that day to day context of our lives that we are to shine as lights and manifest the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

It should be clear to us from the life and example of Jesus Christ that the call of God is not for His people to form a little social club that has nothing more to do with those who have yet to bow the heart and knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We are not the “good guys” and they, the “bad guys”. We are the redeemed of The Lord, and they are in the clutches and grip of darkness with only One Way out, and that One Way is by grace through faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. It was the self righteous and unrighteous Pharisees who murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Beloved, we are those who have been commanded to work in The Lord’s harvest. While it is true that we can no longer participate with the unfruitful and unholy things of darkness, it is equally true that we have been called out of the world to live for Christ and proclaim Him in love.

The doctrine of legalism is the doctrine of isolationism. The doctrine of Christ is one of separation and infiltration into a society that has lost it’s moral compass, for which there is only One Hope, The Lord Jesus Christ. Shine for Jesus today, dear ones. May His love be seen in you and through you whatever you do, and wherever you go.