WHAT TO HATE IN THE WORLD

THURSDAY 5 AUGUST 2021

Today we are going to discover what the Scripture says about "not loving the world" and its true meaning. By gaining this knowledge, we can work out the Christian life as a daily reality in our world.

Reference: 1 John 2:15-16 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world."

In verse 15, John said, "Do not love the world or anything in the world." How do you feel about this instruction? How can anyone live in this world and hate the world and anything in the world? If this statement should be accepted at face value, then its a difficult thing to live in this world. This is because you are not only instructed to hate the world, you are equally instructed to hate anything in this world, and that can include your family, career, food, friends and more.

The second verse (verse 16) reveals to us what the author had in mind. It says, "For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world." The amplified Bible explained it in details. It says, "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. 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."

Now it's quite obvious what to hate in the world as a born again Christian living for Christ. Friendship with those who function in such worldly desires is also seen as hostility toward God because of their negative influences. Therefore, the only person who can experience living for Christ in the world is the Christian who allows the Holy Spirit to take charge of his Christian walk, with him being His vehicle of expression. That way, he can hate the world in regard to its lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life which do not come from God. So the Christian life is never designed to be a slave to these three elements or facets of worldly manifestation.

The Christian life consists of the righteous, victorious, joyous, peace-filled, transcendent life that Jesus gave us to live in this world. This means that we can love and enjoy the great things of this world by living the abundant life in Christ. God Himself asserted the truth that He loved the world by sending His only Begotten Son to die for our sins (see John 3:16). The world He loved is the world of humans not the sinful desires. What is God's intention and will for sending Christ to die for the world? His will is that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Beloved, the world and its desires pass away, but whoever believes in Christ and does the will of God lives for ever. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; James 4:4; 1 Timothy 1:14-16.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, I'm overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness that you sent Christ to die for sin of mankind because of your love for the world. Having obtained your mercy and love, I'm daily conscious of giving expression to the burning desire to see lost souls saved, which rises up from my grateful heart. I detest the evil desires of this world and I die daily to the flesh because the love of Christ controls me, thereby restraining me from every flesh-seeking purpose in Jesus' Name, Amen!