Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you: II Corinthians 6:14-17
At first glance this sounds rather harsh. How is it we are supposed to reach the unbeliever if we are not to be yoked to them? Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, makes his case for something so powerful that we tend to overlook. This chapter starts with, “Receive not the Grace of God in vain.”
We think separation has to do with our list of rules, regulations, dress code, and/or outward appearance. We are not known by the outward man. We are known by the inward man. It is the inward man that comes outward. Matthew 12:34 says, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” What you really are on the inside will manifest on the outside.
True holiness is something that has been set apart, dedicated unto God, and separated unto Him. It is when the inner workings of the heart of a man have been set apart unto God that something so compelling comes from within, attracting the unbeliever to be desire what we have, Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. They should want to be like us, not us be like them.
Our prayer for you this week: May you come to realize the power of being set apart unto God.
