LOVE’S DIRECTION

LOVE’S DIRECTION

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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. —I John 2:15-17

            Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind?  And do you love your neighbor as yourself?  These are the two great commandments Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:37-40.  This is where our love is to be directed.  It is not to be directed toward “the world or the things in the world.”  What are “the things in the world?”

• The desires of the flesh— “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. —Ephesians 2:1-3
• The desires of the eyes— Wanting what one sees in stark disobedience to God’s Word— “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” —Genesis 3:6 
• The pride in possessions— “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’  But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” —Luke 12:16-21

            Where is your love directed?  Is it truly toward God or the world?  Oh, Dear Father, may we love You with all our being.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  So may it be!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSAN5ObaRQg