1 John 2:15-16

8/24/2011

1 John 2:15-17 "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. 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. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."
Stop and read that again. Then ask yourself; what do I crave? Is it more important to achieve worldly things or money or do you crave to live a life that pleases God? Jesus came in human form and lived 33 years pleasing God and God said in Matthew 3:17, "...This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."
Is our life bringing Him great joy? Is Jesus your focal point and who you aspire to be like? Are you seeking Him for a living relationship that makes you surrender your will? If you answered "no" to any of these questions ask yourself, why? And if you answered "yes" to all of these, is God looking down saying you bring me great joy? Crave wisdom, knowledge and action then love Christ enough to change. Amen

5 Comments

Dolores

8/25/2011 02:19:40 am

I think every church should preach on this scripture as soon as possible and see if we can get a revival going. I think we really need one. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

keith link

8/25/2011 05:15:31 am

Dolores you are correct we should always hear these great ans challenging things. Thanks for sharing.

Kevin Leach

8/26/2011 12:51:18 am

Great verse Keith! And, a very good question. So, as beings born on this earth, and subjected to all of the influences that want to point us away from the Lord, our battle is quite often within us.

Looking at myself and my life, I have often noticed how short I fall from the teachings of Christ and his examples. While I have sinned, it is my relationship with Christ that allows me to shed that cloak of guilt and be embraced in the arms of our Lord. Like a cleansing hug, I know my sins are forgiven, and I have a new perspective that I have the opportunity to continue.
But it always seems that I hit a bump in the road, my view on God wavers, and sin is the result.

How does one live in this world, be of this world, and not be influenced by it's misguided directions?

keith link

8/26/2011 01:05:10 am

I feel it takes us slowing down and not acting on emotion. It is only through Christ that we can keep our eyes off the world and on Him. Matthew 11:28 really sum up what we need to do. "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. We understand that we are not able to do it without Christ and we seek strength and wisdom daily.

J.Cronk link

8/26/2011 08:04:01 am

Kevin,

That is the tricky part for all of us, how do we exit the world and yet still function in it. I guess as Keith says we need to continuously focus on Christ. At times I will think I am going good and I am okay and then Bam! something happens that knocks me off balance. As Keith and I have talked about a few times recently, Romans 12, the whole chapter, comes up and slaps me in the face (Gently of course) to warn me and direct me how to continue in this world, yet belong to Christ. As I have said before, I am still in it with all of you, struggling to figure it out, but when I truly seek the wisdom of Christ, he delivers precisely at the time I need it most.

J.

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1 John 2:15-16

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