The World or God?
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today to give you thanks and to seek you. We thank you for all that you’ve done for us and provided for us. This morning as we read and study your word, please help our understanding. We love you and praise you.
READ:
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:15-17
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:4-5 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Billy Graham used to say, “Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.” The same is true for your calendar, your reading list, and your contact list. The truth is that we can say that we love God and desire to do his will, but where our hearts are is revealed in an examination of the minutia of our days, weeks, years. Examining our hearts for its loyalties is something that should be done every day in prayer. In confession and repentance is the perfect time to ask: Do I desire the world or God?
APPLY:
Saying “yes” to God is saying “no” to the world. We have to do the work of filtering everything the world is offering us through God’s word. According to Titus 2:11-14 – “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
CLOSING PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for offering us the gift of your grace. Help us to say “no” to the world and to say “yes” to you. We are eager to do what is good. Amen.