John the apostle has been sharing with us over the last few days the three areas of temptation that are common to every person – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. If we narrow down any area of sin that is available, it will fit in one of these categories. Today we have one more thought from John in this wonderful verse – First John chapter two and verse sixteen:
For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
All of these that are in the world are not of the Father, but of the world. Remember John shared with us that the Father desires to have fellowship with every one of us, and He has removed the sin barrier that separated us from Him. Now all we have to do is believe in Him, and we can be saved. However, what we really believe is revealed by our lives and the passions that we follow. If we love the world and the things that are in the world, John says the love of the Father is not in us. The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the areas we should examine within our own lives to reveal what we really believe.
We should ask ourselves regularly, “Do I love this world and the things that are in it more than God?” “Are the things that I am passionate about temporary or eternal in nature?” “Does my flesh desire things that are not of the Father, and do my eyes long for things that will not last forever?” “Am I seeking acknowledgment, fame and elevation from man or do I humble myself under the mighty hand of the Heavenly Father?” I'm sure there are more questions that can be asked, but these should get us started.
There are things that are worldly, and there are things that are heavenly. Paul the apostle gave us a great exhortation concerning this in the book of Colossians chapter three and verse two:
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
When we examine the things that we love, we will know whether we are earthly minded or heavenly minded. Those who desire fellowship with God know that the heavenly minded person will have fellowship with God, and all the things of the world become a distant thought to relating to Him.
Next time we will discover what happens to the person who is heavenly minded verses what happens with the things of the world. Read ahead, and we will share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
No comments:
Post a Comment