September 29, 2023

WHAT ARE YOU CRAVING?

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

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. 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. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

Yesterday we started this conversation on loving the world or loving God. Today I will address why we shouldn’t love the world. John tells us the three things the world offers — “a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.” Craving for physical pleasure is the desire for temporary satisfaction. We want to feel good right now. Our world loves to teach that if it feels good it must be right. But the problem is my emotions are a poor guide for life. If I allow myself to be wired to only follow what feels good, I will be a failure in life. Many days I may not feel like getting out of bed. I may not feel like reading my Bible, having a time of prayer, going to church, or going to the gym. Success is never found by people who allow what feels good to dominate their behavior. These are the people who get into addictive lifestyles that are self-destructive. The second view of the world is to crave more stuff. I remember the bumper sticker I saw one day on a red sports car, “Whoever dies with the most toys wins!” I wanted to tell the driver, “Whoever dies with the most toys is dead!” The accumulation of stuff will never produce satisfaction or fulfillment in life. I have often seen people who start out wanting to be successful by having the right house, car, clothes, and toys put themselves on a track of constantly having to get the next thing in hope it will make them feel good about themselves. The moment they get that new gadget another version comes out. It is a never-ending cycle that can’t be won. Then comes the world’s view of popularity. We must get more likes and followers. If we post something that doesn’t get more likes and comments than someone else got, we have to try harder to feel good about ourselves. Our self-worth should never be tied to the number of social media followers, comments, or likes. The titles, degrees, or positions we have should never define us. We are defined as children of God. All the stuff of this world is temporary. We are eternal. Let’s remember we were not created for this earth. We were created for eternity.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit please help me today to check up on my priorities and desires. Show me areas of my life where I’ve allowed the world to set my standard of behavior and thought. Forgive me and empower me to break free from this world’s view.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”