"The World We Live In" December 15 Readings: 1 John 2:7-3:10

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022

This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT. 

Bible Readings:  1 John 2:7-3:10  

Background:   

Many see this letter as divided into four sections, which form a sort of chiasm (based on the Hebrew letter that looks like an X). The first section started n 1:1 and goes through 2:14. It establishes God as light and exhorts us to live in light and not to sin. Then 2:15-3:10 is a warning not to love the world. The next section, 3:11-4:13 calls on us to love God and love one another, and the last section, 4:14-5:20 returns to the life we live if we love God.

Daily Devotional:  The World We Live In

We Americans love our world, don't we? We love our country. We love our movies, our TV, our sports, our games. Despite all the things we complain about the world we live in is pretty good. It wasn't so great for the early church - they lived in suffering, opposition, persecution, deprivation. It was perhaps easier for them to hear verses like 1 John 2:15-16.

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.

Why is it that we are not allowed to love this world? Is God a cosmic killjoy who simply wants to make us miserable? Does our joy make him mad? No, of course not. But John knew what we sometimes forget. This world and everything in it stands in opposition to the will and ways of God. 

We cannot forget where we live - in hostile territory. We are loyal to heaven and we live in the domain of darkness. This world is under Satan's authority and he has sown it with his lies. He has blinded the minds and hearts of unbelievers and the world reflects those values. 

As we go through the day, we can enjoy life, love people, and experience pleasure in this world. We don't have to be hermits or practice docetism. But we must realize that we are living in the enemy's realm and our loyalties are to the God of glory. We must walk carefully, wary of deception and temptation in the world. 

The good news is that Jesus told us to be of good cheer because he had overcome the world and its sinful system. He did that through his love, sending his only son so that we could believe and be saved. 

Father, thank you for your love that caused you to send your Son to overcome this world and save us. 

Consider God's Word:

What is your attitude toward this world?
Do you love it and all the things that are in it, or do you put your hope in God?
Where are your loyalties?