1 John 2:15-17 (New International Version)
Do Not Love the World
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
So the side note in my Bible says..."John uses the word WORLD to mean...we dare not love the sinful ways of the world." I think they pulled that right out of their world-loving butts.
It says very clearly to me "everything in the world...comes not from the Father but from the world." This means everything. This is a reminder that this world is not our home, and we should set our hearts on God, not on that which will decay.
I think that we (humankind) have a tendency to cling to our possessions and positions- and it does not come from the Father. I had a conversation yesterday in which the other person said, "Well, I don't think God calls us to give up our lives." And good grief! That's EXACTLY what God says.
Matthew 10:39-40 37
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
And again, in Matthew 16:24-26
24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?
I am not advocating abandoning your children or shunning your inlaws (even though you may wish I was saying that) or quitting your job. I am saying that your HEART should be set on things above. Do your work here- raise your children, provide for your family. But, do not let those tasks overtake your love for God and His work. This world is not your home. Your house and job are not the point. Do not forget that.
I would like to ask that you consider how tightly you cling to the things of this world. Your house, your job, your family. Does it outweigh how often you take up your cross? Do your actions show that your heart is set on the things of earth or on things that are eternal? What is the ratio of how much time and energy you spend building barns and harvesting crops on this earth to how much time and energy you spend following Christ's admonition to love your neighbor as yourself and storing up treasures in heaven? Which home do you spend more time decorating- the one made of sticks and mud, or the mansion Christ is preparing for you?
Just think about it.
I need to go make cheese and change a poopy diaper, but I didn't want this scripture to get away from me. I do not want to be "like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. " I want to hear the Word and be changed. Trasnformed. Different than when I started.
More like Jesus.
XOXO
Joce
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About Me
I love Jesus, my hubby, my 6 kiddos, my farm, good books and good food.
1 comment:
Of course we can't give up our duties in life but we need to learn how to transform ALL that we do in our day into a loving gift to God and offer it as a continous prayer. St. Therese of Lisieux's "little way" (The Story of a Soul) is a prime example of doing all for Him through the daily activities that we encounter. To find love in that task we find so extrememly monotomous or daunting. Doing this with a cheerful heart out of love for Him can be a way of sanctification! How refreshing!:)
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