Through the Bible - Ezekiel 47-48, 1 John 3
Good morning,
Heading into December, we can look around us and see that the Christmas season is in full swing. The advertisements that you see are more and more about "stuff" that you can give, ask for, and receive for Christmas. Can you remember a time as a kid, or perhaps even now when you had your heart "set" on something that you'd like to receive as a gift. The verses below tell us to have our hearts set on Christ, on God, the giver of the greatest gift that we could ever receive.
1 John 2:15 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. NLT
or from The Message
or from The Message
1 John 2:15-17 Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
I like what The Message tells us in verse 15, "love of the world squeezes out love for the Father", love for God. These verses should be a reminder to remember Who and what "the season" is all about. If we've received the gift of God we should be set for eternity.
If you look at the verses again you may notice that they contain one commandment and three arguments or incentives for us. John Piper states, " The commandment is, "Don't love the world or the things in the world." The first incentive is that if you love the world, you don't love God. The second incentive is that if you love the world, you will perish with the world. And the third incentive is that if you love God instead of the world, you will live with God forever."
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. NKJV
God gave us His only begotten Son but so many refuse the gift because they do not love God. They would rather love the world, to glory in stuff that will soon fade or be sold in a garage sale instead of glorying in the Son of God, something that they can hold on to and treasure for eternity.
God gave us His only begotten Son but so many refuse the gift because they do not love God. They would rather love the world, to glory in stuff that will soon fade or be sold in a garage sale instead of glorying in the Son of God, something that they can hold on to and treasure for eternity.
Is your heart set on "stuff" or is it set for eternity?
Loving the World
I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus' name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.
And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers — such vitality and strength! God's word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
(from THE MESSAGE)
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