Do Not Be Conformed — In the World, Not of the World

Billy Graham

“They are of the world … We are of God.”
—1 John 4:5–6, NKJV

The Gulf Stream flows in the ocean, and yet it is not absorbed by it. It maintains its warm temperatures even in the icy waters of the North Atlantic.

Believers are in the world, and yet they must not be absorbed by it. If Christians are to fulfill their purposes in the world, they must not be chilled by the indifferent, godless society in which they live. The Bible says, “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). It is true that Jesus dined with publicans and sinners, but He did not allow the social group to overwhelm Him and conform Him to its ways. Instead, He seized every opportunity to present spiritual truth and to lead a soul from death to life.

Our social contacts should not only be pleasant, they should be opportunities to share our faith with those who do not yet know Christ. As you have contact with others this day, will they sense the warmth of Christ’s presence through you?

It’s possible for us to interact with an unbelieving world, to love our neighbors, to share Christ, and, yet, still to be set apart. We can go into all the world (Mark 16:15) while not looking anything like it.