Devotion 11/20, Keep My Focus on Christ

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15-16

When John speaks of the “world, he is speaking of a system which man has built in an effort to make himself happy without Christ. It may include the world of culture, art, education….etc, any sphere in which the Lord Jesus is not loved and welcomed. Humanism, for example, totally rejects the fact that we even need a Savior, it teaches that we are just fine on our own apart from Christ; thinking such as this is of the world and should be rejected by God’s children for it is against the Word of God and therefore Christ.
Today, we see many trying to make themselves content and happy by giving into their own “sinful cravings”, like substance abuse, sexual perverseness, foul speech, violence and such. We can hardly go to a movie or watch TV without being bombarded by things glorified in them that are clearly against God’s Word.

Today, “lust of the eyes”, want for something or someone that is not ours has become an epidemic with crime and infidelity. Mankind feels that if they want something they should have it, and if they cannot afford to buy it then they are entitled to take it from someone else because they are not to be denied of possessing what they want no matter who gets hurt in the process.

I’ve felt that if someone feels they have to boast, it’s from insecurity. If you have to tell me how good you are, you usually aren’t!
There is nothing wrong about your accomplishments, giving to charities, being educated or having money, it is when these things take first place over God in our lives that they become sinful, only God deserves first place in our hearts and lives.

Satan simply muddies the waters, blurs our vision so we take our eyes off Jesus, to get us to fulfill the desires of the flesh and not the Spirit. But as God’s children we have the power of His Holy Spirit indwelling us and that is more powerful than satan or anything he throws at us! When we cling to Christ Jesus, and separate ourselves from the ways of this world, we will be victorious in our walk for Christ, having His peace and joy in our lives, and defeating satan every time!

If we really sink our hopes and dreams in our Father, we are attached to eternity and what we need most is always with us!

Lord, give me wisdom to invest in you and things that matter. I confess to you that my eyes and my heart are often distracted by the glitzy stuff that is temporary. By your Spirit, O Father, stir my heart to yearn for you. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Lord, I seek strength to keep my eyes focused on you. Thank you for Your victory over death and the path to eternal life. May I be a witness to You in all I say and do and I give all praise and glory to you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen