Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 24 July 2022
TOPIC: Love Not The World
8. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
12. I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him [who is] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
14. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him [who is] from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.
17. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 24 July 2022 MESSAGE
The warning of not loving the world or the things in the world is directed to Christians as contained in our text today. John makes it clear that Christians should live differently and not according to the world standard. The world, according to this text, refers to the evil, organised system under Satan, which operates through unbelievers, who are God’s enemy (Rom. 8:7).
He specifically mentioned the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life as the sinful things in the world from which Christians are to run. The Bible forbids worldliness for us as Christians. You are Christ’s ambassador. You should not live to satisfy your lustful desires which will only separate you from the love of God. We are not to love the world because that will make us God’s enemies.
Sexual sins and other indulgences, greedy desires for material riches and possessions of this world as well as self-advertisement are not part of our Christian heritage; they are of the world. As a child of God, you are not supposed to be under the control of these things. Be determined to choose the pathway of righteousness.
PRAYER: Lord, please deal with every lust of the flesh in my life. Amen.
