Daily Devotional
Are You Cozy with a Friendly Enemy?
“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. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
1 John 2:15-17
October 11, 2023
Ponder This
The word cosmos means, “a system or an order of things.” It is a way of doing things. For example, we talk about the “world” of finance, sports, or fashion. That’s the way the word world is being used here. The Bible says: “Do not love the world,” or cosmos. There is a system that we are not to love. John was not talking about planet Earth; he was not talking about the people, either. He was talking about an ungodly system set against our Lord and His Christ. You’re not to love that world. Although it may act very friendly toward you or cozy up to you, it is a friendly enemy.
It is important to see what the Bible has to say and understand why we’re not to love the ungodly world system. When we feel tempted to join the worldly system, we need to think about where it is headed and the consequences of following and loving the world.
- What are some things in the world’s system that are tempting to you?
- What are some things of the world you’ve held onto in the past?
Practice This
Make a list comparing the system of the world and the system of God’s kingdom. Consider how they are different.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Real Truth Never Changes
Real truth never changes, and the truth about government is that it is God who ordains it, leaders who are responsible for it, and citizens who are accountable to it. The privilege of being called Americans comes with significant responsibilities—to God, to each other, and to the world.
