Firsthand Faith 08

“Love not the world neither the things that are in the world.” (1 John 2:15)

How do we understand the need today to live “in the world” but not be “of the world?”

As we know, our God is a God who “is love.” But love does not eliminate hate. Sometimes it accentuates it.

When we love someone we hate the illness that afflicts them. My grand darlin’ McCail is suffering her first cold. Right now, I hate the virus that is giving her a cough and runny nose and red eyes and stealing her energy. I hate the virus because I love McCail.

How could I possibly make friends with the germs that sicken her… NEVER… or love them?

Our love makes us hate the things that attack or injure or sicken or threaten our beloved. How then, if we love God, can we also love the things that have aligned against Him?

When we are called to love God we align ourselves against the things, the systems that seek to rise against Him. A doctor who loves healing hates the cancer, even microscopic, that threatens the patient.

“If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in Him.” And so our devotion to God requires our hatred of that which opposes Him. We are not bad because we hate… true love demands it.

“Father, we too easily give in to the seduction of a world system that is aligned against You. Forgive us where we compromise and offend You by loving the wrong things. Increase our love for You and all things that magnify You. In Jesus’ name we pray.”

 

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