Prayer ~ Jesus, I do not love this world nor the things it
offers me because I chose to have the love of the Father in me…from 1 John
2:15.
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. 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 NKJV
Meditate. Consider God’s love.
 |
| Love God...Love Others. Live in harmony like these daisies and echinacea. |
I think what John was writing about…Do not love this world
nor the things it offers you…is saying not to put other things before God.
Don’t love money, fame, fancy cars, clothes, food, sports, movies, other
entertainment or people more than you love God. If you love the things that the
world tries to entice you with, instead of putting God first in your life, then
it really shows that you don’t love God the Father…or have His love in you.
Pretty straight-forward. That is just how God is. He has made it simple. Love
Him. Love others. Love yourself. In speaking with the Pharisee…
Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all
your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest
commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two
commandments." Matthew 22:37-40.
In teaching more about God’s plan, Paul wrote, from prison.
So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be
ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God
gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God
saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we
deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to
show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain
to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death
and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:8-10
There is nothing we can do or say that entitles us to anything
that God offers mankind. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, or eternal life. None of those are
ours. They are a gift from God. What a wonderful gift! All wrapped up—like a
precious birthday present. Open it. It is God’s gift of love to you…and you
alone. Are you going to accept God’s gift…or are you going to love the world
and the things it offers you instead? What do you choose?
Verse
of Salvation ~ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not
to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless
otherwise noted.
New King James Version © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Harper Collins
Publisher. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
New Living Translation (NLY) copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by
Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Reused and refreshed
from April 8, 2019
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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