Do not love the world
or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 ESV
Love of
the world is something we cannot afford. Our love cannot be divided.
We cannot love God and the world at the same time. To do so is to
commit spiritual adultery. When we come to God through Christ we are
giving up our love affair with the world and the things of the world.
We are entering into an exclusive relationship with the God of the
universe. We must forsake the past and long for our future in heaven.
Married
folks get this idea of exclusivity. We would not like to have our
spouse share their love with anyone other than us. God doesn't want
to do that either. God gave His Son to do die on the cross for us, He
paid the ultimate price to call us into
a relationship with Him. So when John says “If anyone loves
the world, the love of the Father is not in him” he is talking
about that person leaving the exclusive relationship they had with
the Father.
It is
obvious that the world calls to us. Even though as Christians we have
left the world behind spiritually, we still physically live in it.
Because it surrounds us, it tempts us and if we are not careful we
can be lured away by it. That is why John writes what he does. It
is so the reader can be aware of the dangers of loving this
world too much.
Today
let's be aware of the world around us, but let's not be tempted by
it. We all have memories of the way life was before Christ. Let's
remember them with sober
judgement and realize that the world was not what we needed.
It wasn't good for us. Our new relationship is what we need to make
us complete and spiritually healthy. Let's recommit to the love of
the Father.
© 2013
Leo J. Woodman
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