Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.
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.
(ESV)
—1 John 2:12-17
by: Katie Brown.
To love as the world loves is to love yourself over everything else. A common philosophy of the day is to “take what is yours” and to “believe in yourself.” This has been a repeated theme throughout history and was true even in the times of the New Testament saints. To know God’s character and to love God is to be transformed into His image. God’s gift of His Son is a model of selfless love that the world cannot replicate. The promises and temptations of the world are temporary and do not sustain. They who love God and follow His will know God’s incomparable glory.
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