“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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 JOHN 2:15-17
PONDER THIS
When John says, “Love not the world,” he’s talking about an ungodly system. The word translated world is the word cosmos and it means, “order.” It has the idea of a philosophy and a system. We speak of the world of finance. We speak of the world of sports. We speak of the world of fashion. What we’re talking about is not a people and not a place, but a system, a cosmos. There is a certain system that the Bible says children of God must not love and must come out of.
Now the world has a prince; his name is Satan. But not only does the world have a prince, the world also has a philosophy. There is an enticing network of ideas and values that are skillfully woven together to entrap the most innocent of people. First Corinthians 3:19 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” Now that tells us two things. First of all, this world has its wisdom. Number two, God scoffs at the wisdom of this world. This world has its wisdom and its fashion. It goes from the schoolhouse to the statehouse, from Madison Avenue to Wall Street. It may appear in theme parks. It may seem innocent and sometimes beautiful, but it is not what we were made for, and it will never satisfy. In fact, holding onto this world tightly will only move us farther away from our heavenly Father.
What are some ways you have clung too tightly to this world?
What are some reasons why we choose the things of the world instead of the things of God?
PRACTICE THIS
Be honest with God in prayer about the ways the world is enticing you. Ask Him to help you to abide in Him even while you are living in the world.
LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers
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