DCLM Higher Everyday 25 April 2024 — Love not the world
Topic: Love not the world
Text: John 2:15-17
15And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Key Verse: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1John 2:15).
Message
Erwin W. Lutzer said that, “It is better to love God and die unknown than to love the world and be a hero.” The greatest threat to the Christian life is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world. The Bible warns us not to love the world and its allurements. Remember Lot’s wife whose heart was in Sodom when she ought to be fleeing it. The case of Demas who became an apostate is also a sad one. A Christian should not love this present evil world because it is enmity with God (James 4:4). Soon, the world will pass away but those who do the will of God will live with God forever in His kingdom.
Youths who indulge in immorality, nude dressing, worldly music and examination malpractices are lovers of the world. As Christians, we are called unto holiness. We must shun every appearance of sin such as pornography, certificate forgery, and anything that does not glorify God. You can repent today from every form of worldly pleasures by accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour.
Quote: Shun every appearance of sin.
Challenge: Love God and not the world.
Prayer for today: Help me, O God, to forsake the world, in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
