“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19 NIV
This verse is a restatement of 1 John 2:15. John has drawn a sharp line between believers and the world. He does not allow for a middle category, of true believers who keep one foot in the world. Either you are “of God” and separate from this evil world, or you are of the world and you lie in the arms of the evil one. John described the world by the three phrases, “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life,” and said that such things “are not from the Father.” Believers must not live to gratify the flesh or to pursue the outward, material things that consume the world’s fancy. Life is short and hangs by a thread. To take pride in this life or in this evil world is to trust in what will soon perish. Only that which is eternal is worth pursuing. John describes the whole world as lying in control or arms of the evil one. The picture is not of frantic captives, desperately trying to escape this depraved tyrant. Rather, they lie quietly in his evil clutches, oblivious to their tragic plight. The god of this world has blinded their minds (2 Corinthians 4:4). They can wear “Life is Good” T-shirts, oblivious that they are wandering perilously close to the edge of the abyss. They don’t realize that “in due time their foot will slip” and they will face God in judgment. Rather, they are sleeping peacefully in the arms of the evil one who will destroy them! In contrast to the world, believers are “of God.” We now belong to and serve a new Master. He gave us new life, so that in every sense we are “of God.” So our lives should be God-centred and God-focused.
PRAYER THOUGHT
We know we are of God by the witness of Your Spirit, and live as such.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, we now belong to You and serve You, because we love You. You gave us new life, in every sense, we are “of You.” Let our lives be God-centred and God-focused by the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
Matthew 2:1-12
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