“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. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24
“Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
The apostle John understood what leaving behind the old life meant. From the moment he left his livelihood to follow Jesus, the new Master reframed his world. Gradually he transferred attention, allegiance, and affection from earthly to heavenly pursuits. The natural son of Zebedee grew into his new identity as Jesus’ beloved disciple and an eternal child of God, his transient purpose overtaken by lasting hope. (Mark 1:16–20; 1 John 3:1-2)
When the Lord Jesus saves, He banishes the old and replaces it with new. His indwelling Spirit transforms desires, priorities, even ingrained thought- patterns and habitual practices. While everything may not change immediately, the process of sanctification has begun and will be completed. The shadowy world centered around self that once encompassed us, under new management becomes open-hearted and full of light. The Holy Spirit within dissolves old strangleholds, diffuses strange desires, and shines hope and wisdom to lead us forward. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6)
Do we truly know Jesus? Since we’ve become His child, how has our world changed? What new passions have replaced the old? What personality traits have been freshly inspired, what tendencies redeemed? What loves of the world and its vapid offerings have diminished as our love for Christ has grown?
Are there rough character traits we want the Lord to soften, thought patterns that need reorienting? What irreverent, greedy, selfish, or immoral yens can we bring to Jesus to forgive and cleanse? Which world- this or the next- do we want to pursue, and inhabit? What can we bid farewell to help build Christ’s kingdom as we await His return?
Life in the orbit of Jesus will be marked by joyful, even if not easy, obedience. The thirst to please self, by faith and the influence of the Spirit, will reorder, and the fruit of the Spirit increase. If we are not wanting and experiencing redirected affections and inclinations, we must check to see who is our Master, whom we are actually serving. When we are committed to Jesus, our days will be characterized by increasing righteousness and Christ-like love. (Matthew 6:24; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 3:4-10,14-20,23-24)
“Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance, now and always.
Thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.” ~St. Dallán Forgaill (530-598)
Lord, invade and possess my world so I serve and exalt You alone.
As the rain and snow 