Video Title: Merry Christmas JesusÂ
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
Observation
Hop onto the internet and pull up Google images. Insert the word “London” and look at a few pages of pics. In 30 seconds you will have seen more images than any of your ancestors from a century ago. Prior to the invention of the camera people saw only what was in front of them. Only the wealthy had paintings, and few of those. Catalogs of pretty things to purchase from mail order companies did not come out until later in the 19th century. The furthest vision anyone had was the front window. What a difference that would have made in the contentment level of living!
Even though our ancestors could see so little and desire even less, nevertheless John felt it important to warn them not to get so preoccupied with things that they missed the Father’s love for them. If those words were needed 2,000 years ago, how much more for us who have Amazon.com, YouTube.com and Google.com! And even more so on Christmas Day!
What does the world offer to us? Is it possessions and achievements? No, John summed it up perfectly, “For the world offers only a craving….” The world does not satisfy a need, it just creates a desire for more that is insatiable.
Application
Why is it that God calls us not to love the world? Is it because he wants us to be careful not to enjoy life too much? Not at all. In fact he gave all things “for our enjoyment.” What the Father wants us to avoid is the hollowness of having a craving-filled life rather than one filled with a fullness of love. He doesn’t want us to enjoy anything without him any more than children should open Christmas presents without having their parents to watch.
When we love the things that the world makes we make no room for satisfaction with God’s love. Instead we push it aside with cravings. When Laurel my daughter was just four years old she gave me the greatest reward a parent can ever have, “Dad, you are more interesting than TV!” Can we say the same of the Lord? If we have the love of the Father in us that is exactly what we should be saying.
Prayer
Father, I want to be satisfied today in having just Jesus. That is enough. Amen.
