For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.+
1 John 2
What does John mean by “don’t love the world?” Reflect on the three things he names in v. 16. Love is a complex word. It encompasses a lot. And it can mean different things in different contexts, which is likely why the Greek language has three different words for it. One thing I think is true regardless of context, though, is that you serve, at least to some degree, what you love. The deeper the level of love, the greater the bond of service. And so service is our devotion put into action.
Another universal truth about love is that it involves our desires. We desire what we love and love what we desire. By extension, then, it is fair to say that we serve our desires. Love, desire, service, devotion – they are all tied together.
The things that John mentions in verse 16 – things that we covet, our fleshly passions, and pride in the likes of position, power, and possession – are not from God. So as I see it, John is raising the question of where we seek to fulfill our desires. Do we seek satisfaction from what the world has to offer or do we seek it from God? We will be devoted to whatever we believe satisfies our desires and we will serve whatever we are devoted to.
Since God makes it quite clear that He requires wholehearted devotion and that we can’t serve two masters, it has to be one or the other. Hence, we either love God and desire what He provides, or we love the world and desire what it provides. The good news, though, is that when we set our sights on God, He promises to make His desires ours. He changes us so that not only do we no longer seek satisfaction from the world, we find that the world can no longer satisfy. More to the point, I think, is that we come to realize that what we truly need can only come from God.
2 Chron. 19-20
Pray Jehoshaphat’s prayer over your problems today. What battle plan did the Lord give him? Why? Two things I love about this battle story in 2 Chronicles 20 are that Jehoshaphat turned to God’s promises in his prayer and that God fought the battle for him. Jehoshaphat was being attacked by people that God had not allowed Israel to drive out when He brought them into the Promised Land. So it’s fair to say that Judah was now in a tight spot due to their previous obedience to God. Jehoshaphat also brought up God’s promise at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. God had promised that when His people stood in His presence and called on His name, He would hear their cries and save them from their distress. Jehoshaphat knew that God is faithful to His promises.
In response, God gave another promise that I think is relevant to all His faithful ones who call on His name. God said, “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you” (2 Chron. 20:17a). I believe this is how we are to face all of the unwarranted challenges in our lives. I’m not talking about facing the consequences of our poor decisions and sins. I’m talking about challenges we face in spite of or especially because of our faithfulness to God. We are to stand firm on God’s promises and know that He will deliver us. I also note how God began His deliverance the moment His people began to sing and praise. When we can praise God even before He delivers, it is both a sign of and a bolster to our faith.