Do not love the world, 1 John 2:15-16AMP

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. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.  1 John 2:15-16 AMP 

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 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.  1 John 2:15-16 NLT

Once again and as always the Word is simple and straight forward:  Do not love this world nor the things it offers you.  No matter what version you read the message is still the same, as it always has been and will be; do not love the world or the things it offers you.  If you do, the Father is not in you.  It shows that He doesn't live inside of you.  If you are putting your earthly possessions before Him, then His love is not in you.  Secondly, if you are putting them before your neighbor (Mark 12:31), His love is not in you.  

Key things in verse 16:  lust & sensual craving, lust & longing; and the boastful pride of life.  None of those key things come from God.  Two other key words are flesh and eyes.  Whatever your eyes see, they want to satisfy the flesh and when your flesh gets what it sees the flesh always wants more.  When you want more of the world and less of God, He and His love is not in you.  

The AMP version says:  pretentious confidence in one's resources or in the stability of earthly things.  Impressing others with your earthly possessions will get you nowhere since they are not stable.  They are not founded on the rock (Matt. 7:24-29).  Remember, all earthly things will pass away.  Those things that are unseen last forever (2 Cor. 4:18).  No one cares about your earthly possessions, especially the Father, and anyone who does the Father most likely is not in them either.  First of all, all blessings come from Him, so whatever you think you own should be given back to Him. 

Don't fall in love with the blessings, fall in love with the One who gave you the blessings.  Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul (Mark 12:30).  Do not love the world. 

#prodigalpastor #world #GodFirst #love #LoveGod #devotional