Devotionals for May 31, 2023
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READ
1 John 2:15-17
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.
REFLECT
The world as we know it is not as God originally intended it to be. Sin, death, injustice, hatred, immorality, and pain pervade in every corner. When we are told to “not love the world,” this does not mean that we should treat our present world as a place which is of no importance to us and fantasize about escaping it.
Notice how in the passage, John lays out what he means by “not loving the world.” It is that which is not a part of God's original good creation that we are to reject, “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life.” God's original creation was good, and he has begun his restoration project, but this world is still a place where evil persists, and part of our witness includes remaining opposed to that evil in how we live. Kingdom work is not just preaching the gospel and planting churches, but holiness and “doing the will of God.”
APPLY
Q: What are the specific parts of the world mentioned in this passage?
Q: Where do you see the “desires of the flesh” being most tempting in your life?
Q: What does it look like to disciple someone toward “doing the will of God” in this sense?
SING
“Is He Worthy” by Shane and Shane
PRAY
"Give us today our daily bread."
Lord, help us to trust you with every part of our life to do your will in a world rampant with sin. Amen.
READ
1 John 2:15-17
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.
REFLECT
The world as we know it is not as God originally intended it to be. Sin, death, injustice, hatred, immorality, and pain pervade in every corner. When we are told to “not love the world,” this does not mean that we should treat our present world as a place which is of no importance to us and fantasize about escaping it.
Notice how in the passage, John lays out what he means by “not loving the world.” It is that which is not a part of God's original good creation that we are to reject, “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life.” God's original creation was good, and he has begun his restoration project, but this world is still a place where evil persists, and part of our witness includes remaining opposed to that evil in how we live. Kingdom work is not just preaching the gospel and planting churches, but holiness and “doing the will of God.”
APPLY
Q: What are the specific parts of the world mentioned in this passage?
Q: Where do you see the “desires of the flesh” being most tempting in your life?
Q: What does it look like to disciple someone toward “doing the will of God” in this sense?
SING
“Is He Worthy” by Shane and Shane
PRAY
"Give us today our daily bread."
Lord, help us to trust you with every part of our life to do your will in a world rampant with sin. Amen.