John 15:19 ESV If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
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The capacity of human nature to zero in on being loved is what makes “fitting in” to the world such a tempting option. Jesus warns us “fitting in” to the world is not a reliable indicator of love. We’ve just celebrated the birth of Jesus as the promised revelation of God’s love for us. Jesus is the pivot point for our world. Pivot points are basically a choice, an intersection [a cross?], that determines direction.
That promise is the mystery Jesus reminds us of with these words; “I chose you out of the world.” The fact is this world is God’s own choice for us. The mystery is solved by this: While we are chosen “out of the world” we still have to live our life IN it. Learning to live IN the world as visible evidence of that Pivot Point is what completely changes our understanding of God’s love and our interaction with the world too.
Read and Ponder - Faith in Daily Life 