I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
John 17:14-16 (NASU)
In these few verses, which are part of Jesus’ last prayer to the Father on behalf of His followers, the Christian’s relationship with the world is defined.
The coming of the body of Christ on the Pentecost (Acts 2) following the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ ushered in something truly unique in the world. Through Christ, all men and women could become a part of a single family, united in purpose, in redemption, and in adoption as sons and daughters of God (Gal. 3:28, 29). This body grew throughout the entire Roman world within only a few decades (Col. 1:23).
Anyone who is familiar with hunting or target shooting with weapons such as rifles or pistols knows the importance of having the weapon’s sights set properly. It is not enough to simply aim the weapon at the target, but also necessary to make sure the sights which are used to aim are properly adjusted. By making those minute adjustments, it becomes possible that when you place the reticle of scope or the point of the sights over the bulls-eye, it is exactly where the shot will end up. Learning to set one’s sights can make one a better marksman, but the principle can also be applied to our everyday lives.