Jesus said, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full" (Luke 6:32-34). He also said, "Which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" (Matthew 7:9-10). We know how to be "good," even though we are evil, and even though we are evil, we do some "good" things. But just like Jesus said, that isn't any different than anybody else. He has called us to a higher standard--to love our enemies, and to do for others first, not just what we expect of them, but what we hope for them.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). To live as Jesus expects us to live, we need to be changed, transformed [metamorphoo], like the butterfly that no longer bears much resemblance to the caterpillar that it was.

We need to remember that when we belong to Christ, we become "aliens and strangers on earth . . . longing for a better country, a heavenly one" (Hebrews 11:13,16). "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into this wonderful light . . . Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against the soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us" (I Peter 2:9,11-12).

We can't make a difference for the Kingdom of God unless we are willing to be obviously different from the residents of this world. We need to be "out of this world," citizens of heaven, living to bring glory to our Lord and King, and inviting all who will accept Him to come along home with us.

Lord, make me a magnet for the unbeliever, and a light in the darkness. Amen