Step Out to Step In

Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 6:17–18
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord… And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

There’s a quiet tragedy that unfolds in the life of many believers. It’s not the spectacular failure or the scandalous collapse—it’s the slow drift into a kind of faith that costs nothing and therefore transforms nothing. We say we want to be close to God, but we also want to stay tethered to the comforts and habits that keep us unchanged. Yet the gospel never invites us to settle for a polite coexistence between old loyalties and new life.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Wherefore. Where’s this pointing me? Not to some smug superiority or isolationist piety—but to the simple reality that you can’t carry the idols of Egypt into the Promised Land. You can’t cling to the very things that wound you and expect to walk in wholeness.

And then comes the next call: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1). When you see a therefore, ask yourself, “What’s it there for?” It’s there because separation without consecration is just an empty gesture. God doesn’t ask you to let go of what diminishes you without inviting you into what will finally make you whole. He doesn’t say “be separate” so you can be alone—He says “be separate” so He can draw you into deeper union with Himself.

Sometimes, surrender feels like stepping off a cliff into the unknown. That’s where the grit comes in—the holy stubbornness to trust that when you give God everything, He won’t leave you with nothing. “Those who in everything make God first and last and best are the happiest people in the world.” (Messages to Young People).

So if you’re wrestling with what to lay down, don’t just ask, “Is this allowed?”—ask, “Is this holding me back?” If you’re weighing whether to yield, don’t just wonder, “What will it cost me?”—ask, “What is it worth to finally live free?”

Because holiness isn’t just about avoiding contamination; it’s about stepping into the life you were created to love. A life so rooted in God’s mercy that surrender becomes your reasonable service—not a sacrifice you grudgingly make, but an offering you gladly give.

Reflection Questions:

1. When you hear the call to “come out and be separate,” what are the unseen comforts or quiet compromises you might be holding onto?
2. How does asking “Where’s this pointing me?” change the way you interpret challenges or convictions in your spiritual life?
3. What does it look like in your daily routine to actively offer your body as a “living sacrifice” rather than just thinking about it as a concept?
4. hat is something in your life that, if surrendered fully to God, might feel like stepping off a cliff? How do you imagine God meeting you in that surrender?
5. How can you distinguish between the question “Is this allowed?” and the deeper question “Is this helping me live free?” in your decision-making?

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, help us to see clearly the things in our life that hold us back from fully surrendering to You. Give us the courage to step out from what is familiar but unholy, and the grace to step into the new life You have prepared for us. Teach us to offer our whole self as a living sacrifice—not out of obligation, but as an act of love and worship. May Your mercy be our strength and our joy as we learn to trust You more deeply every day. Amen.

If this devotional stirred your heart to follow Christ more closely and to walk with purpose, take the next step in His Word—“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Keep your eyes on Jesus and let Scripture dwell richly in you day by day.

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