"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship
has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with
darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a
believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with
idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will
dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My
people.'
"'Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says
the Lord. 'Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a
Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord
Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
The Christian, while in the world, is
not to be of the world. He should be distinguished from it in the great object
of his life. To him, "to live," should be "Christ." Whether he eats, or drinks,
or whatever he does, he should do all to God’s glory.
You may lay up treasure; but lay it up
in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves break not
through nor steal. You may strive to be rich; but be it your ambition to be
"rich in faith," and good works. You may have pleasure; but when you are merry,
sing psalms and make melody in your hearts to the Lord.
In your spirit, as well as in your
aim, you should differ from the world. Waiting humbly before God, always
conscious of his presence, delighting in communion with him, and seeking to know
his will, you will prove that you are of heavenly race.
And you should be separate from the
world in your actions. If a thing be right, though you lose by it, it must be
done; if it be wrong, though you would gain by it, you must scorn the sin for
your Master’s sake. You must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them. Walk worthy of your high
calling.... Therefore, keep thyself unspotted from the world. ...let
not these eyes become the windows of lust which are soon to see the King in his
beauty.... let not those hearts be filled with pride and bitterness which are
ere long to be filled with heaven, and to overflow with ecstatic joy.
Morning and
Evening, September 11, by Charles H. Spurgeon
