And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:17
A crisis – it means different things to different people. To a teenager, it may mean that his privileges to use the family vehicle are taken away as discipline for wrongdoing. To a business owner, it may mean that the pandemic has caused deep hardship and threatens his livelihood. To a country, it could mean the dismantling of trusted ideals and values. To the apostle John, it meant doctrinal error being propagated by false teachers, making it necessary for him to write to the provinces of Asia Minor.
He was calling his readers back to some basics for Christian life and fellowship with God: truth in doctrine, lives of obedience, and devotion that is fervent for the Lord. The cares of the world have a way of directing thoughts and actions. Hopelessness comes from the devil, but he can also cause you to be caught up in the pleasures of the world, desiring its favor, its prizes, and its affections. Truth gets hidden by the darkness.
God is Light for all who seek Him. His Word gives direction, comfort, guidance, encouragement, and the path to do His will. Pray for those who resist the truth of His Word, especially those who govern this nation. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior of the world is primary. “The world is passing away;” it is transient (1 John 2:17, 2 Corinthians 4:18), so depend, instead, on God who is not only light for your way but the rock on which to stand. All others will pass away, but He will always be there for you. Know that God loves you. And extend that love to others.
Today’s Verse: 1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 John 2:1-2, 7-10, 15-17
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
