"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 in possessions-- 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
Are we as Christians ever going to realize that being friends with the world is enmity with God? (James 4:4) By being of the world, you are becoming hated by God. Because God hates the things of this world. The Greek word for 'enmity' means "opposition or hated; the opposite of agape, 'love.'" The love of the world is the love that God hates. Proverbs 6:16 lists things that God hates. But God gives more Grace! Without the Holy Spirit, we would be hopeless and we could not live lives Holy and acceptable to God. The belief in your heart is communicated through your actions. You are right, God does know your heart, but by your fruit you are known. A tree without fruit is useless and will be cut down. If we are merely blending in the world and not truly being Sanctified and being made set apart, we are of the world and we are in utter rebellion to God and His commands. The Grace He has given us is the Holy Spirit by which we can walk free and set apart from the world. Further in James 4, Paul states, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." Draw near to Him-- live off of Him and you will surely live. Resist the world and its passions, and you will surely find the life that God has for you. We need to come to the pertinent realization that we are not our own. We have been bought with a price! As Christians, we are to be subjected to God and His Kingdom! Not this worlds. Because you cannot serve two masters, you will surely die. We must remember that we are a mist, here and then gone. Are we making the most out of the time God has given us? Or are we spending it indulging in flesh and 'fun?' Are we Kingdom minded people, seeking always to further His Kingdom and to see His will done and not ours?
Lord, that is our prayer. Your will be done; not ours. We know that on this earth we are to be ministers of reconciliation and ministers of Your love and Truth. Let us truly see that we are Your servants and we live for no other reason than to see Your will done.
