Welcome to today’s Daily Redemption — where we confront the subtle pull of cultural conformity, the danger of spiritual drift, and the liberating power of fixing our eyes on Jesus while living fully in a broken world.
Lyrics by Zeb of Virginia Beach Church
from his song “My Old Fighting Ways”
Song with music here
When Troubles befall me When people take aim
To get under my skin and stake out their claim
although I know better now for you have showed me the way
I’ve still not foresaken my old fighting ways.
Vindictive and petty they play out their games
for no real advantage not fortune nor fame
and when they do cross me I should just think of Your Name
but instead I’m consumed by my old fighting ways
My old fighting ways My old fighting ways
Oh Lord let me be free of my old fighting ways
when the enemy strikes you said turn the other cheek
You said struggles of this world will be shed by the meek
but when evil appears to darken my days
In my veins I feel stirring my old fighting ways
Oh Lord you have changed me in so many ways
I look in the mirror and don’t know my own face
its lighter and brighter but the devil still stays
knowing I will slip back into my old fighting ways
I should just rebuke him and always send you my praise
I know if I do that he will just run away
but he always knows his next move
he knows the tricks of his trade
with which he can conjure up in me
my old fighting ways
I fight and I fight on rare occasion I win
I’m knocked to the mat then I’m up and fighting again
when all I could want the Lord would send my way
if I could only let go of my old Fighting ways
You have filled me with joy a new creature I am
in your light I am centered in your truth I do stand
and so I do pray Lord as the only price I can pay
someday I’ll leave buried my old fighting ways
Featured Scripture and Commentary
John 17:14–16 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
I have been posting these bulletins every day since October and it was about a month ago that I started writing my own commentary instead of pushing out AI content exclusively with the only exception being lyrics from some song I had written which was more on-point than others. Never have I had anyone reject or complain about anything that I put out. It could be said that it was only recently that people have started paying attention and that is why nobody complained earlier. Be that as it may, my works here have been well received. I don’t claim to be brilliant or prophetic or anything else except faithful, sincere and with a strong desire deep within me to share and discuss God’s Word. Writing these words is when I am most buried in the Bible most days and I rejoice in this time. I hope that above all else I am in some way, not a stumbling block, but useful and helpful to whomsoever might be reading my words. Lord, let it be so.
Yesterday though I stepped out of that world to write some political thoughts and post it on Facebook (it is down now) and a dear friend rebuked not the thoughts specifically but my stepping into the ring. “Too much divisiveness” he proclaimed. “Why add to it?” He asked. And then it immediately came to me what Jesus said about being in but not of the world and that he was right and I was wrong. I had stepped out of the circle. I cannot dilute or confuse the message that I put out celebrating and pointing to Jesus and helping others (I pray again) on their road to Calvary or Damascus or Jerusalem with my views on the worldly or I lose. In this DRBBB I remind myself of that with scripture which all says the same thing.
Now does that mean that I am saying Christians stay out of politics? God forbid. If they are spreading the gospel and they have wedged out a niche in the world from which they can stand up for righteous issues and evangelize the gospel then I say they should put on the full armor of God (eph 6:10-14) and get very expert at using the one non-defensive but offensive piece of that armor which is the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) which as it says in Hebrews 4:12 “…is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” If their efforts are a stumbling block for none and bring one soul to Jesus or steer them from false gospel and theology to the Word then it is a net positive and it is worth it. Personally I prefer to stay out of the world as much as possible, adhere to the scripture herein contained and focus, as the hymn says thusly: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.
Some of us can be engaged in the world and fully looking into the wonderful face of Jesus. Some can’t and the moment they enter the arena in which truth struggles daily for survival they take their eyes, to that degree, off the prize. For those that can, I offer to them the reminder to put on the armor (which is actually attributes of Jesus) daily and I remind them of the Pauline invocation “Pray always”.
CORROBORATING SCRIPTURE
Romans 12:2, Colossians 3:1–2, Hebrews 12:2, 1 John 2:15–17, Philippians 3:20, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Matthew 6:33
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Colossians 3:1–2 Since,then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 John 2:15–17 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
TODAY’s MESSAGE:
Being “in but not of” the world isn’t about isolation. It’s about orientation.
Jesus didn’t pray for His followers to be removed from the world (John 17:15). He prayed for their protection and sanctification while they remained in it. We are called to engage culture, serve neighbors, work jobs, and raise families—but without absorbing the world’s values, priorities, or definitions of success.
One believer shared: “I spent years trying to ‘fit in’ at my corporate job—laughing at cynical jokes, chasing promotions, compromising my integrity to keep peace. I felt exhausted and empty. Then I read Romans 12:2: ‘Do not conform… be transformed.’ I realized I wasn’t just working in the world; I was becoming like it. So I started small: I stopped gossiping. I declined unethical shortcuts. I prioritized Sabbath over overtime. It cost me some favor, but it gained me peace. I’m still in the office, but I’m no longer of the system.”
This is the tension:
In the world: We are salt and light (Matthew 5:13–16). We engage, influence, and serve.
Not of the world: We refuse to let the world define our worth, shape our desires, or dictate our ethics.
The danger isn’t contact with the world—it’s conformity to it. When we start valuing what the world values (status, comfort, approval), we lose our distinctiveness as Christ’s ambassadors
Focus on Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2). Let His kingdom priorities reorder your life. Seek first His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). And watch as God uses your faithful presence in the world to draw others out of darkness.
PRAYER FOR WHOMSOEVERS
Lord, help me live in this world without being shaped by it. Guard my heart from loving what You hate. Renew my mind daily so I can discern Your will. Give me courage to stand firm when culture pressures me to compromise. Let my life point others to You, not to myself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
