Do You Love the World? (1 John 2:15-27)

Beginning in verse 15 of 1 John 2, the author moves into a topic that is all to familiar to us and the struggles of our current day. John commands us not to love the "world" and all the things that come with it. He also tells us why loving the world is not what God desires for us. I am sure that the temptation to love the world has always been present in each age, but it seems to me that our culture of self-indulgence is especially at risk.

Love of the world is so sneaky in that many times we do not see ourselves as loving the world yet when something "of the world" is taken away from us, it can have a dramatic effect. For example, how many of us have felt stress over the decline of our investment/retirement portfolios? How many of us have felt a loss of self esteem around the loss of a job? How many of us have been frustrated that we do not have enough money to buy something we really want? How many of us have bought it anyway?

Then there is the approval of the world. I was so impressed with Miss California in the recent Miss USA pageant when asked whether all states should legalize same sex marriage. Miss California, a Christian, stood her ground and said that she believed that marriage is between a man and a woman. She lost the competition and most believe (including the judge) that she lost it because of the answer she gave. She could have given the politically correct answer knowing that answering truthfully was going to cost her the title. In fact, she said in an interview today that she knew that question was a possibility and prayed that it would not be the question she was asked. God didn't answer her prayer. Or did he? God gave her a platform and she chose to love the God rather than the world. The result was she lost the temporary crown but gained a eternal one. Way to go!

John 15:19 says "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world; but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

Does that not clearly explain the Miss California situation? Who says the Bible is no longer relevant?

Questions:

1. John says do not love the world or the ________ in the world. (v 15)
2. If you love the world, what is not in you? (v 15)
3. What is described by John as being in the world? (v. 16)
4. What will eventually happen to the things of the world? (v. 17)
5. What will happen to him/her who does the will of God? (v 17)
6. What did John tell the readers would be coming? (v. 18)
7. What will the Antichrist teach those who will listen? (v. 22-23)
8. What is the defense for us against the Antichrists? (v. 20, 24, 27-28).
9. What promise did Christ/Holy Spirit make to us? (v. 25)

In Christ,

Curtis

Distraction or Prime Mover (Special Entry)

While running today, I was very aware of how tired I felt, more than usual. As I considered why that might be, I realized that normally during my runs, I am either praying or listening to my Ipod so I am less aware ("distracted") of any physical strain. Today I was neither listening to my Ipod or praying. I just started running with no agenda in mind.

Because I was tire of feeling tired (and because I did not have my Ipod), I decided to pray. Just as I was about to start, I realized that I was potentially using God as a "distraction" (from being tired) rather than making him the primary desire of my heart and seeking Him just to seek Him.

How often do we do this? We call out to God almost as an afterthought; use him as a distraction; a "Mr. Fix It" of sorts, rather than our initial and primary source/builder of all things in our life.

Is God the Prime Mover in your life or is He like a pitcher in the bullpen that you call on when your initial plans are not working and you need him to come and "Save" you?

Is God your maintenance man (someone who fixes things someone else (you) built) rather than a builder (one who does the initial construction)?

My God never be a distraction or afterthought in my life and may he always be my first and primary mover/builder.

Stumbling in the Dark (1 John 2:7-11)

Surprise. Surprise. I set out to cover all 26 verses of 1 John Chapter 2 and I made it through all of six verses. Those of you who are regulars in class of course are not surprised at all. So we will try it again. We will try to cover the rest of Chapter 2 but this post deals with only verses 7-11.

So often Scripture uses imagery to help us understand the point being communicated. As I think about it, it is the very way we communicate with our kids when they ask us a question or when we are trying to get our point across. In this epistle, John uses "Light" to illustrate being in God's will and "Darkness" to communicate being out of His will. In verses 10 and 11 of the ESV translation, the imagery of "stumbling" in the dark is used. As I meditated on that concept, I could not help thinking about what it is like to wonder around in my house at night in the dark. You think you know where you are going but you are never really sure and if you are not careful, there is always the risk that you will bang into some furniture, stub your toe, or step on a Polly Pocket or Barbie accessory (at the Rippee house anyway). You must be keenly aware of the risk that every step you take could result in pain to some part of your body.

Isn't that really what walking outside the will of God is like? You are not sure whether the next step you take will result in some sort of pain that could have been avoided had you just chosen to follow God and His will. Sometimes it is easier not to turn on the light when walking in your house at night because you really don't want to wake up. That can be true of our spiritual lives as well. Sometimes we are so comfortable walking in spiritual darkness and really don't want to wake up to the spiritual truth because it would demand a response from us. Like walking through a dark house where risk of injury is around every corner so to is the risk we run in our spiritual lives, only the pain can be much worse and last much longer.

Are you walking in the Light or the Dark? Maybe it is time to turn on the Light and figure out where you really are walking.