S) "17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."
1 John 2:17 (NASB)
O) The preceding two verses carry strong warnings not to love the world. To clarify the language of the "world," it can refer to both the collective people who are not of God, and also the planet. In this sense, John is reminding the disciples of Jesus, that our focus, intentions, and values, should not be on anything of the world (people). That is to say, our pursuits should not be the same as theirs, because our motives to any actions should not be the same as theirs. In the verse above, we are reminded of the underlying principle at work, in the division between believers and non-believers, and what draws our interests. The things of the world, and the people themselves, are passing away. Disciples of Jesus know that there is an eternal agenda, beyond our lives in this world (planet).
A) My interests can be all over the place. I like videogames and reading fiction. I like board games and building forts. I like watching TV shows and talking about them. I like good food and Lego blocks. And I love Jesus. In a lot of ways, these interests feel at war with my love for my savior, because they are all fighting for my time. Like turns to love, when my actions give priority. That happens sometimes. The above verse draws a line in the sand, though. I cannot love the things of the world, because those things - and the reasons I love them - are passing away. I enjoy games and books because I like fighting, conquering, adventure, and victories. I enjoy building Lego things and forts because I like creating, searching, and accomplishing. I like TV and movies, and talking about them, because I like laughing, relating, and breaking things down (and arguing, admittedly). All of this can be beneficial to me and others. All of these things can be used for God's glory - and that is good. But also, all of these things can sabotage my attention from my Lord, and subvert His Kingdom through me. It really comes down to investment. If I am investing in something temporal, only in the here and now, then am I truly doing to will of God? That seems unlikely. If I am investing in something eternal (relationships, edification, God's glory, etc.), then I am more likely doing His will. The verse above reminds me of an easy test to use - check to see if this is a dead-end-investment of my time.
P) Father, doing Your will is a joy. It brings fruit to my life, with joy, peace, and hope. Doing Your will is not always fun. Father God, I confess that too often, I am pursuing fun at the expense of life. Open my eyes to see when my actions are investing my time into something that is passing away regardless. Help me to identify when I am using the things of this world, for You, to further Your kingdom, and when the enemy is using the things of this world, against me, to further his. I don't want to play the fool. I don't want to lose focus. I know that You will use my passions, interests, and abilities to further Your kingdom, so remind me that there is plenty of fun to be had there. In the end, God, I don't want to chase the lusts of the world, reducing my pursuits to hedonistic, instinctual actions. I want to be purposeful - in Your purpose. Let Your will prevail in my life, daily, by the actions I take to fulfill that will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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