WORLD WAR WON
“If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love has no place in him.” –1 John 2:15
Most of us believe that love for the world could detract people from receiving God the Father’s love. In contrast, the Lord maintains that love for the world will totally displace the Father’s love from our lives. Therefore, we must have no love for the world (1 Jn 2:15), make no provisions for the desires of the flesh (Rm 13:14), and crucify the “flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24). Love for the world is like cancer. Even a little bit of it kills.
The Lord has been extremely clear about our relationship with the world. He chose us out of the world (Jn 15:19), and the world hates us (Jn 15:18; 17:14). Nevertheless, we can choose to be the world’s friends and thereby become God’s enemies (Jas 4:4; Phil 3:18-19).
As clear as the Lord is about our relationship with the world, many Christians have never gotten the message. Therefore, the Lord has sent as messengers Christians who, like little children, depend on God the Father (see 1 Jn 2:12, 14). These “little ones” are graced by the Holy Spirit to convict us of our worldliness (see Jn 16:8). Fathers especially are anointed to communicate the message of God the Father’s all-sufficient love (1 Jn 2:13, 14). In our Father’s love, we have everything. We don’t need “the world with its seductions” (1 Jn 2:17). Finally, the Lord has chosen young men (1 Jn 2:13, 14) like Paul, Anthony, Benedict, Francis, Dominic, and others to rebel against the world. The message of these young men rocks the world. Because of them, many crucify themselves to the world and live in the Father’s love (Gal 6:14).
PRAYER: Father, this Christmas free me from the world.
PROMISE: “She was constantly in the temple, worshiping day and night in fasting and prayer. Coming on the scene at this moment, she gave thanks to God and talked about the Child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.” –Lk 2:37-38
PRAISE: James sought Jesus in silence, heard the call to monastic life, and accepted his new vocation.
