Pastor’s Perspective

WEEKLY DEVOTION

May 5th, 2024

LOVE NOT THE WORLD!

As believers of Christ, we are to love what God loves, and hate what He hates. John’s epistle reminds us that to love God there are certain things that you must not love and refrain from doing. John says in 1 John 2:15-17, “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. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

It is impossible to love God and love what He hates and opposes. Our sinful pride may rebel against this thought, but we simply are not able to love the world and God at the same time! James also uses very strong language to warn against befriending the world when he says that "friendship with the world is enmity with God.”

So remember, we are called to be lights in this world, but not of this world. While we are in the world, we are not to let worldly possessions, pursuits, pleasures, become more important than loving God because the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”