1 John 2:15-17
The NLV reads, “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when
you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and the pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.”
The Message reads, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world-wanting your own way,wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important- has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out-but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.”
The NIV reads slightly different...it is in my van. This message was preached Sunday at my church and I too became suddenly aware of my focus. My focus had shifted. The exterior of the body is sometimes easy to disguise...to the world that is. The interior condition of the heart is another thing. Where is your heart? Are your preoccupied with your Father’s love? Eyes fixed on heaven above...obsessed with my heavenly Father’s love. That focus on truth is allowing yourself to be blessed beyond measure. Resting and accepting the promises of God. Daily surrender.
