Separation From The World 2

James 4:4b: . . . know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

When God saves us and makes us His children He makes us different than we were before. He also makes us different from the unbelievers around us who are still like we used to be. Before I was saved I kept myself separated from saved individuals and now that I am saved many lost individuals separate themselves from me. Before I was saved, unsaved individuals were my friends and believers were not. Now that I am saved, other saved individuals are my friends and the unsaved are not. I rejoice when someone receives Christ and comes over to the believers* side. Before I was saved unbelievers were seldom critical of me. Now they are hypercritical. When I first became saved I was surprised and troubled by the criticism and enmity of unbelievers. Now I am no longer surprised by their criticism and enmity and I am thankful for those things. They confirm for me that I am a child of God. When those things happen I learn who I should pray for, love and witness to. And, of course, we should be careful not to say or do things that actually do deserve criticism and enmity.

2 Corinthians 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 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. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

This devotional was written by Charles Haddon Spurgeon on Psalms 5:8: Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies.

Very bitter is the enmity of the world against the people of Christ. Men will forgive a thousand faults in others, but they will magnify the most trivial offence in the followers of Jesus. Instead of vainly regretting this, let us turn it to account, and since so many are watching for our halting, let this be a special motive for walking very carefully before God. If we live carelessly, the lynx-eyed world will soon see it, and with its hundred tongues, it will spread the story, exaggerated and emblazoned by the zeal of slander. They will shout triumphantly. *Aha! So would we have it! See how these Christians act! They are hypocrites to a man.* Thus will much damage be done to the cause of Christ, and much insult offered to His name. The cross of Christ is in itself an offence to the world; let us take heed that we add no offence of our own. It is *to the Jews a stumblingblock*: let us mind that we put no stumblingblocks where there are enough already. *To the Greeks it is foolishness*: let us not add our folly to give point to the scorn with which the worldly-wise deride the gospel. How jealous should we be of ourselves! How rigid with our consciences! In the presence of adversaries who will misrepresent our best deeds, and impugn our motives where they cannot censure our actions, how circumspect should we be! Pilgrims travel as suspected persons through Vanity Fair. Not only are we under surveillance, but there are more spies than we reck of. The espionage is everywhere, at home and abroad. If we fall into the enemies* hands we may sooner expect generosity from a wolf, or mercy from a fiend, than anything like patience with our infirmities from men who spice their infidelity towards God with scandals against His people. O Lord, lead us ever, lest our enemies trip us up!

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