Tuesday, 27 June 2023
LOVE NOT THE WORLD
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).
This was one of the first Bible verses that impressed upon my young, receptive mind as an eight-year-old. It's God's declaration, and it's final. It says if you love the world, the love of the Father isn't in you. You may confess a thousand times that you love God, but if you're in love with the world or the things of the world, the love of the Father isn't in you.
Some have asked, "Why would God tell us not to love the world when the Bible says, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son? Why can't we also love the world like the Father did?"'
God loved the world of men; not the systems and the things therein. He loved the people and sent Jesus, His Son, to save them from their sins; 1 John 2:16 says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." The Scripture is admonishing us against worldliness and carnality.
Refuse to be influenced or carried away by the spirit of the world. The Bible says, "...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4).
As saints of God, we shouldn't engage in unspiritual discussions where sometimes they spend hours arguing about their favourite sport teams and almost get into fisticuffs. They spend hours watching movies and TV shows, but when it's time to pray or study the Word, they fall asleep.
Don't get carried away and sucked in by such things to the point that they drive your life and distract you from your purpose. You're in this world for a divine purpose. So, think differently and be conscious of that higher purpose for which God in Christ has called you.
PRAYER: Dear Father, the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! I live for Christ, and I refuse to be swayed by the spirit of the world, nor enticed by the sensual, carnal, fleshly and worldly trends. I'm from above, and my mind is set on things above. I'm an ambassador for Christ, called to establish heaven and righteousness in the hearts of men, in Jesus' Name. Amen
FURTHER STUDY:
Galatians 6:14 AMPC; 2 Timothy 4:10 CEV; James 4:4 AMPC
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 13:1-12 & Nehemiah 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 4:33-44 & Deuteronomy 25