Set Apart for His Service

John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Jesus knew His disciples were going to hit trials and persecutions, but He didn't pray they would be removed from them.

Jesus knew it was BETTER for them to face trials and endure them. He wanted them set apart for His service.

Although it may be EASIER for us to pray for God to translate us to heaven like Enoch, or take us up in a whirlwind like Elijah, it's actually a selfish prayer.

God has us hear for a reason. Stop trying to escape those reasons. Stop using the trials that come our way as reasons to pray for the rapture. If we only think about the rapture when trouble hits, that's a problem.

The Lord wants us set apart for His service.

Continue to look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our Lord, but NOT at the expense of praying that God would strengthen us to face our trials and help us walk through them.

Trials, problems, persecutions are not easy, but Jesus said: my yoke is easy. If you're yoked up with Jesus, the burden is light!

For example: It's not easy dealing with lost people, but it's BETTER for lost people if you would stay and contend with them because they need to hear and believe.

Finally, it doesn't really matter how long Christians are in this world, IF we’re set apart for His service and kept from evil!

And the good news is, WE ARE...

Galatians 1:3-5 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.