Living for Christ

What the Lord desires in His people is whole-heartedness for Himself. This does not imply separation from the ordinary occupations of the world. But the question is whether these occupations entangle the heart and become our objects? Or whether while pursuing these occupations, the heart is still free for Christ? Is getting on in the world what fills our thoughts? Are we, while providing things honest in the sight of all men, really living among men and before men as those who are not their own but bought with a price? Are we being constrained by the love of Christ and seeking however feebly to live not unto ourselves, but unto Him who died for us and rose again?
Few are called upon to preach Christ, but all are called upon to live Christ. To live Christ involves taking His place in relationship to the world. "They are not of the world," the Lord said, "even as I am not of the world.”
It is easy to put imaginary cases and to ask where the line is to be drawn. The heart that is in communion with Christ, though it may not know how to lay down principles, will distinguish readily enough what will suit Him and what would grieve His Spirit. It is only Christians who are anxious to mix with the world that have any difficulty in the matter. The world quickly enough discerns what is consistent and what is inconsistent in a Christian. They estimate without difficulty the value of the testimony given by a worldly believer.
If the heart is really true to Christ it will unconsciously bear witness to Him and separate from the world which knows Him not. The spirit and objects of the world cannot have a place in the soul that is filled with Christ. The pursuits and riches of the world will appear worthless to him whose affections are set on things above.