{"id":1151,"date":"2023-11-21T01:26:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T01:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=1151"},"modified":"2023-11-21T01:26:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T01:26:09","slug":"we-should-not-love-this-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=1151","title":{"rendered":"We Should Not Love This World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.\u00a0For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and\u00a0also<\/em>\u00a0its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.\u00a0 (1 John 2:15-17, NASB)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My friend Mark Okyen visited me this past Saturday.\u00a0 We had a great visit.\u00a0 He asked me a question about what I wrote about a couple times ago.\u00a0 I said that God is concerned about with whom we spend our time.\u00a0 His question was, if we don’t associate with unbelievers, then how will they be saved?\u00a0 That is a great question.\u00a0 I touched on this briefly in my essay, but not enough.\u00a0 Sue suggested that I write more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think this can be summed up in the phrase that we should be IN the world, but not OF the world.\u00a0 God expects those of us who love Jesus to act in a way that sets us apart from other people.\u00a0 We should behave in a way that makes others want to have what we have:\u00a0 Jesus!\u00a0 Jesus-followers have dual citizenship.\u00a0 We not only are here on this earth, but we also have a passport to heaven!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1 John 2:15 image.\u00a0 Found at DailyVerses.net
,\u00a0https:\/\/dailyverses.net\/1-john\/2\/15<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Apostle John warns us, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  God is concerned that if we spend enough time with the wrong people, then we will begin to love the world.  Of course, we all go to office panties or squadron parties.  But God expects us to act in a way that sets us apart.  We have to work with these people, but we shouldn’t spend our time in excess with them.  Instead, we’re to devote our time in fellowship with other believers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, John tells us, “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”  This gives me great hope, that those of us who love the Lord will get to spend eternity with Him in heaven!  God wants us not to fall away from His great promise, but to bring as many people as possible with us!  We have no choice to be in this world, but at the same time, we shouldn’t be OF this world! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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