Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
There is a tug of war going on inside of me. My affections are mostly for God and godly things. But, I live in the world. As Jesus said “I am to be ‘in’ the world, but not ‘of’ it. This world is under the sway of the wicked one. It is contrary to God. And it influences my thinking, emotions and desires. A constant pull away and downward from my heavenly calling. The ‘world’ as used by the apostle John is the Greek word- kosmos. The editors of the blue letter Bible define its use here as “the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.” Thank goodness the world is passing away and we who do the will of God will outlast it.
Which is winning the tug of war in me… the world or God? How am I setting my mind upon heavenly realities so as to feed the new nature?
God, as this day begins- I sense opportunities to reach out and love people in Your name. My calendar is full with hopes to minister to people, fulfill Your will in my life, and to grow in grace and truth. Thank your for the health, energy, intellect and purpose You’ve afforded me. May I steward it all for Your glory today. Guard my heart from worldly influence and expand the ‘love of the Father’ to overtake every area of my life. Let’s win the tug of war.
