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. – 1 John 2:15
There is nothing tentative about the sound of a trumpet heralding the approach of a dignitary or awakening the troops at the dawn of the day. Likewise, there is nothing tentative about John’s exhortation to believers in the verse for today.
The current world system, over which the devil rules, is against God. Satan’s rebellion against God, furthered at the beginning of human history with Adam and Eve, continued even as he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. The enemy’s determination to lure you and others, including those in positions of authority in this nation, to follow his insubordination has not diminished. Through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, the devil lures people to elevate things such as food, sexual passion, or human glory above God. Pride in your family or heritage, your race, or your perceived superiority over others in the workplace or in church can place you under the influence of the father of lies.
Decades ago, preacher and teacher J. Vernon McGee wrote that many believers in Christ are succumbing to the sins of the world because they are not studying the Word of God. Just as you need food as sustenance for the body, you need God’s guidance through His Word to sustain your spiritual life and protect you from the world’s influence.
Take time each day to learn from God’s Word, studying, and memorizing key verses, so that when the tempter comes, you are equipped to defeat the sinful attractions of the world with spiritual strength. Long after the world is gone, eternity with the Lord will remain. Love Him and live with an eye to eternity.
Today’s Verse: 1 John 2:15
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.
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 2:15-17, 3:1, 4-10
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.
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
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.
