Do Not Love the World: Are People Seeing Jesus in You?
- meetgodattheedgeof
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
1 John 2:15-17
[15] Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. [16] For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. [17] And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
In our ongoing growth in the Lord, it's important to have honest assessments of our lives. Are there things of this world we love and refuse to give up? It doesn't have to be houses, cars, or money. Today, I feel the Lord wants to focus on one area. When Scripture tells us to do not love the world, it's calling us to examine every part of our lives, not just our possessions.
Do you stand out? Are you different at work? Are you different around your boys? How about at the market or restaurant? After interacting with someone, or if someone simply observes the way you conduct yourself, do they see the Lord?
Knowing and studying the Word of God is important, but that's not where it stops. Learning and applying what we read to our lives should change us. It should change our understanding. It should change the way others see us because they begin to see more of Christ in us.
I feel like my life is used by the Lord as an example of what not to do most of the time. I smile at it because I've given my life to God and the pursuit of His direction, so if something I did can help deter someone else from making the same mistake, praise God. Being a mechanic for almost 30 years meant that I was exposed to extreme sexuality and abusive language for a long time. It's normal in this line of work, and even the best shops with "Christian" owners are contaminated. To try and resist this mechanic lifestyle was met with ridicule, persecution, and alienation. Once I felt convicted to stop living this way, I was literally shunned by people
I called friends. Now, I know it wasn't me they were rejecting.
After a couple of years of committing to this new life and working at a different shop, in a frustrating moment I let a curse word fly. A guy I had worked with for a little while stopped what he was doing and said, "That's the first time I've heard you swear." It literally broke my heart. After apologizing, I realized that even my mistake could point someone to the truth—that followers of the Lord don't pretend to be perfect. We are sinners just like everyone else, saved by grace. My thankfulness for and belief in God's love and grace is changing me and my actions from selfishness to humble obedience, showing love and grace to others. That is what begins to happen when we truly do not love the world but desire to become more like Christ.
You have no idea who is watching or what the Lord is doing in other people's hearts. Our goal every day is to walk in this world as Jesus walked. When we choose to do not love the world, our lives become a testimony that points others to Him.
Thank you, Father, for one more day. Amen.
Matthew 6:24-25
[24] “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. [25] “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
