Beloved,
In your life honestly before Jesus, would you consider yourself mostly diligent with things pertaining to the kingdom of God by His grace…or mostly distracted with other things around you?
How would you rate your kingdom work on a scale of 1 to 10? If you’re more distracted (or even diligent) about non-kingdom things, does the world play any role?
1 John 2:15-17 teaches us by John’s command:
Do not love the world nor 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 and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
John in this passage creates an either-or, conditional choice. If we love the world or any of its “things,” then the Father’s love can’t exist within us. It’s similar to the either-or choice of not being able to serve two masters. If-then. Either-or. Not both. This statement of John’s is certainty not politically correct.
I suppose we all know what the world is, what it represents, the destruction it creates, promotes and causes in people’s lives. But, what about the “things” of the world? When my children were smaller they asked me years ago what those might be.
And the Spirit taught me to answer them back with a simple question. I asked them in their opinions what does the world really like to do, to lust (crave) after, to do a lot, especially to excess.
They gave me an interesting, varied list which included money, music, sex, church activities (out of the month of babes!), holidays like Christmas, food, killing each other, disunity and running away from each other (they had seen and been through a few church splits), amusement including sports, movies, etc.
Then I mentioned they should just do the opposite of what the world chases after, and in the case of necessities like food, etc. – in thoughtful moderation! In the end, I proclaimed to them, it’s always an issue of the heart. Of course, only the grace of God can lead us in all victory, with all adoration to Him!
Paul admonished the Corinthians for their worldliness, their fleshly lives. You might agree many Christians (especially American ones) use their “freedom” in Jesus as an effective temporal cover to continue in activities and attitudes that can’t be proven to lift the name of our Lord. Even if something may be permissible, Paul asserted love limits its freedom, not wishing to cause any brother to stumble. He went so far as to say he wouldn’t eat meat again if that appeared to be the case.
Is there something of the world’s things that has crept in or even has full rights in your heart? Ask Him and others you trust. The Holy Spirit and faithful, holy walking saints will be able to show you. In my life He and others showed me that I had been writing certain people off too quickly, certainly a thing the world practices.
Let’s all love Him more each day in refreshing ways, not being an unfaithful fornicator with (or even a casual friend of) the world or it’s things. Not even a hint or shadow of them, being holy in all our behavior. Come out and be separate. It’s His will for us all in Christ Jesus!
Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,
Marc
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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!
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Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.
Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org
