The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiates 12:13

Today, upon my return from a short trip to SC, I seek to commune and listen to God's Word for me - once again, admittedly I am not bringing my first fruits to God but instead seeking Him after a long day.  This is not what God seeks, so from the get-go I seek God's forgiveness to not only give Him my best but give Him my first.  Before I focus on anything else, I should go to God.  Jesus, please help me do that.  Given all of this I still desperately seek God - including right now.  For my focus, I go to Ligonier.org (online ministry of RC Sproul) and one of its daily devotionals that focuses Ecclesiastes 12 with a post entitled Living Life to the Glory of God.  Having recently studied this book, I draw upon my study and how God uses Solomon, the wisest person the world has ever known, someone who had it all - and found all of life's pursuits meaningless apart from a relationship with God.  The devotional immediately shares how all of us exist to bring glory to God - see also Genesis 1:26, Hebrews 12:18-29.  The devotion then shares: "Ecclesiastes is not teaching us the meaninglessness of life. Instead, it is emphasizing the transitory nature, the impermanence, of life in the present order and is calling us to live in light of that reality. We are, in fact, to enjoy the earthly gifts that the Lord has given us, including such things as loving spouses, worthwhile labor, and good food (9:7–11). However, we must do this with reference to God, recognizing that the best things of this life will pass away but that only He endures forever. We go astray when we make the good but temporary things of this life the ultimate things to which we aspire."  In particular we are referred to vv13-14 where it shares that "we are to live ever aware that the Lord is always watching us, and so we ever aim to please Him." Amen!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who is SO full of compassion and mercy for us - loving us while still hostile and an enemy to You and interceding for us in Heaven every day!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and the mercies You pour out daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily, like not giving You my first and best.  Please forgive me 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 continue to 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 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 of life—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.

 1 John 2

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 of life—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. 1 John 2:15-17

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:12-17.

Per the commentary:

Main idea for the text: "Those who truly love and follow Christ must not fall in love with the things of this world, but rather with the Father who gives them everything they need."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• Although we may like to think God does not hate anyone or anything, He does hate sin and we are to hate sin.  We are referred to scripture where this is explicitly stated: Psalm 5:5-6, 97:10, 119:104, 119:113, 119:163, Proverbs 6:16-19, Hebrews 1:9, Revelation 2:6.  Similarly, God hates it when people love the world instead of Him.  See also James 4:4.
• "If we know God as Father, we will not set our hearts on the fleeting and transitory things of a system and worldview perspective that stands in defiant opposition to Him."
  

Divisions:  

1. Know What You Are in Christ and Cannot Lose (2:12-14): The text outlines a sequence of steps that occur as we move from surrendering to God and He forgives our sin, we then get to know Him more intimately, He gives us strength, power and victory over sin and death, and we are armed to do all of this because God is in us and we are in Him - we thereby love Him and seek to please Him. We also become adopted into His family.
   
2. Know What the World Offers but Cannot Give (2:15-17): "[W]e are not to love and idolize thoughts, values, and behaviors that are contrary to God’s Word (v. 14) and His will (v. 17). Things that appeal to our sinful flesh (e.g., drug abuse, drunkenness, gluttony, abundance of possessions, sexual perversions, etc.) and are fleeting and passing are not to be the things that we live for."  Arrogance is also called out as this implies love of self or a desire for self-glory vs that of God. We are reminded that love of God and God Himself are both eternal vs the world and things of the world which are temporary. "The longing of the human heart is to be loved and to love. The objects of our affections need to be rightly ordered if we are truly to find ultimate and lasting satisfaction....We must recognize that turning even good things into “god” things becomes a bad thing. It is to give your love to a lesser lover—one who can never satisfy, who can never give you what you truly need." The three temptations conquered by Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Luke 4), lust of flesh, lust of eyes, desire for wisdom (pride of life), were what befell Adam and Eve in the Garden during the Fall (Genesis 3).  We are to follow the second Adam, not the first.  

The commentary provides an instructive table that compares things of the world vs that of the Father:

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who forgives sins, adopts me into You family, protects me and arms me with the Holy Spirit and Your Word to love You and protect me from sin, and You are saving a place for me in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  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 for me today and every day.