Okay, Faye, I’m confused.
First I read, “For God so loved the world…” then this? That I’m not supposed to love the world? I thought I was supposed to be like God!
••••••••
Ahh, that could seem confusing. I see that. It boils down to our love for the world is different than God’s love of the world.
We are human. He is God. His love is perfect, ours … not so much. Maybe if we look at the Amplified Version where the English is expanded to encompass the full meaning of the original languages, we’ll have a better understanding:
“Do not love the world of sin that opposes God and His precepts, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
See? When God loves the world, He sees the sin that opposes Him and His precepts and because He loves those people so much, His heart is to rescue them from that bondage many don’t even realize has entrapped them.
When we see the world, we see shiny objects and fun and what we think is freedom and as we engage in those activities, our hearts turn away from God.
The next verse tells us what the world actually offers us:
“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
Yeah, you’ve felt that pull before, haven’t you? You see what she has and you yearn for it to the point of buying the things to make your life more like hers…
You see him/her and think how handsome/pretty and what a great listener. You spend more and more time pouring out your story, listening, laughing, while your spouse is hard at work making a living for you – or waiting on you at home.
You did it! You reached that crazy goal and you are telling everyone about it. You are the best! You have the best of everything and don’t mind showing it off to everyone.
If we are following that pull, we are choosing to walk away from God and His precepts. Not good.
There’s only one way to love the world as God does, and that is to let Him love through you. John 15:5 reminds that we have to stay connected to the Vine (Jesus) or we can’t do anything.
This relationship we have with the Lord is like any relationship. It requires our intentional nurturing and protection. We can’t just tuck it away in a dark corner to stay until we die. God, through John, says this choosing the world over Him means we don’t have Him in us.
Ouch.
Today is a great day to examine ourselves. Have we turned from Him? Are we enjoying what we see, what makes us feel good, and our pride more than we we are God? If so, we’ve got some changes to make. No better time than the present.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
