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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Judges 2-3 

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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

Day 74 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on Israel's repeated failure to follow the Lord as a result of their disobedience to God's command to overcome the remaining inhabitants of the promised land (see previous post).  Israel "did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt.  They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them." (Judges 2:11-12).  God then gives Israel into the hands "of raiders who plundered them" (Judges 2:14).  God does raise up judges to save them but once these judges die, the Israelites return to their wicked ways (Judges 2:19).  Othniel, Ehud and Shamgar are all mentioned in Judges 3 as deliverers who save Israel - each providing temporary peace.

Our starting point should be that we are all (all of humanity) sinful and we exist in a fallen world - plagued not just by our own sin but also by the sin around us.  Believers can easily be seduced by the world.  

My recent study of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) highlighted this important warning and uses words from John:

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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who has strengthened me and protected me - yet I know my sin continues and there is work to do.  Thank You God for protecting me but please forgive me for how I have fallen down.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered. The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn....

Revelation 17-18

The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered. The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn....Revelation 18:14-15

Session #9 of David Platt - Revelation: The Hope of Glory (requires login which I have though my church) focuses on Revelation 17-18.

The focus for this session is not just the judgement of the world in the final days but a warning about the danger of worldly desires.

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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

Revelation 17-18 is a pictorial illustration of 1 John 2:15-17.  These are words that we in the USA need to here - worldly, comfortable Christians.  Hear the invitation of God to repent and turn from the ways of the world and enjoy fellowship with God.

What is going on with these chapters and takeaways:

• 17:1-5 attractive woman who symbolizes worldly seduction and a symbol of infidelity/idolatry/immorality; woman is sitting on a beast the symbolizes worldly persecution; sevens heads symbolizing seven mountains and seven heads; ten horns symbolizing ten kings > persecution of the world and seduction of the world
• the woman is devoured by the beast - end of chapter 17:15-18 according to the purpose of God; the woman disappears from the earth; Babylon and seduction of world in chapter 18 also destroyed > all as judgement of God
• this world is full of deceptive attractions - sensual pleasures, material possessions, promise of satisfaction, hope of security (18:7), insatiable lust for power, subtle lure of pride (...mentions of "great")
• this world is headed to a definite conclusion (18:2); this world will be destroyed completely, suddenly, eternally
• Sin is self destructive and eventually damning - always destroys (see also Proverbs 7);  Satan is a destroyer who knows he is inevitably doomed
• Hear the gracious warning of God! 17:14 Jesus is the conquering lamb; He calls us to be saved; God is Holy and we deserve destruction but He can save us forever!  With His overcoming power, He calls us who are saved to be faithful
• Do not love the world or anything in it; love for God and the world cannot coexist! Love for the world pushes out love for God.  Love for God pushes out love for the world!  Infinite joy has been offered to us!  Don't buy what the world is offering!
• Every one of us has a choice; love things of this world - if we do, our pleasures will always be fleeting; destiny will be hell; OR we can love the God over this world who reigns supreme over this world and our pleasure will be unfading!  Our security will always be in Heaven!

My Prayer: Jesus, I have experienced the pleasure of Your Kingdom and is satisfying beyond what we can experience of this world - thank You Jesus for giving me this taste.  Yet I am not deserving of how You have adopted me into Your family.  I often fall prey to the tempations fo this world - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from these sins and love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me endure...patiently...and cling to You!  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

1 John 2

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. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. v15-17

As a corollary to yesterday's scripture where John warned us about hate and hating other believers, today John talks about love "of the world" which is to love creation but not the Creator - of course with the latter referring to God.

John echoes Jesus' words spoken in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19-24 where Jesus warns us to avoid storing up "treasures on earth".

We must remember that just as posted yesterday, our love of Jesus and others must surpass all else - including family.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who will never leave or forsake me - thank You Jesus!  I love You.  Yet I am undeserving of such a God.  I worry and I have others sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.