While it would be nice to transport all Christ-followers to our own personal Caribbean island, it's just not possible nor is it what is best. We cannot live inside our own Christian bubble and still expect to reach a lost and dying world. Christ knew this, so in the moments leading up to his arrest and death, He lifted up a prayer to His father on our behalf.

John 17:14-16 says, "I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."

So our prayer should not be for God to take us "out of this world" but rather a plea for God's protection during our journey. Without His help, there is no way we can pursue a holy life in such an unholy environment. But with His protective Hand, we can learn to live a set apart life that is "out of this world" and a living testimony to all who see it.

Making It Personal:

• Are you daily asking God for His protection from the enemy?
• What steps can you take this week to make sure you are living a "holy" life even in an unholy environment?