Read it: 1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Think through it:
Why do you think John says not to love the world?
When he says, ‘when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you,’ what do you think he means?
What does John say the world offers?
Sometimes the things the world offers might see “OK” but why do you think John says those things are not from the Father?
What does he say is happening to the world and the people in it?
So if everything and everyone is just fading away, why is it worth it to please God?
Pray about it: Before you start praying, think about something you wanted when you were younger. Something you wanted it so badly that you couldn’t wait to get it. You dreamed about it. You talked about it. You may have even begged someone to buy it for you. Well, now...you probably want something different than when you were younger. When I was young I wanted a Barbie car, you know, the child size car that you could actually drive around in. And even though I never got one, I’m pretty sure people would think I was crazy now if I drove a Barbie car to work everyday. You see, I don’t want one of those anymore. My wants and the things that give me pleasure change all the time. None of those things ever seem to please me or make me happy.
So when thinking about this scripture, pray that God would replace your longing for the things of this world with a desire to please him. He is the only one/thing that will NEVER fade away and the only one who can make you happy.
Live it: It’s easy to say, “Do not love the world nor the things it offers you,” but doing it is much harder. I’m not saying that loving a good sunset, a tasty cookie or wanting to do well in what you do is bad. But I am saying that loving those things more than God and putting those things before God is. So the next time you find yourself putting other things before God, take a minute to evaluate yourself and your intentions ... are you trying to please God or are you trying to please yourself?
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
Think through it:
Why do you think John says not to love the world?
When he says, ‘when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you,’ what do you think he means?
What does John say the world offers?
Sometimes the things the world offers might see “OK” but why do you think John says those things are not from the Father?
What does he say is happening to the world and the people in it?
So if everything and everyone is just fading away, why is it worth it to please God?
Pray about it: Before you start praying, think about something you wanted when you were younger. Something you wanted it so badly that you couldn’t wait to get it. You dreamed about it. You talked about it. You may have even begged someone to buy it for you. Well, now...you probably want something different than when you were younger. When I was young I wanted a Barbie car, you know, the child size car that you could actually drive around in. And even though I never got one, I’m pretty sure people would think I was crazy now if I drove a Barbie car to work everyday. You see, I don’t want one of those anymore. My wants and the things that give me pleasure change all the time. None of those things ever seem to please me or make me happy.
So when thinking about this scripture, pray that God would replace your longing for the things of this world with a desire to please him. He is the only one/thing that will NEVER fade away and the only one who can make you happy.
Live it: It’s easy to say, “Do not love the world nor the things it offers you,” but doing it is much harder. I’m not saying that loving a good sunset, a tasty cookie or wanting to do well in what you do is bad. But I am saying that loving those things more than God and putting those things before God is. So the next time you find yourself putting other things before God, take a minute to evaluate yourself and your intentions ... are you trying to please God or are you trying to please yourself?
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