John – God and Love
As a toddler, we took one of our granddaughters out to an ice cream parlor that was known as the “best in the region.” This place had so many flavors that it boggled the adult mind. Randy lifted her up so she could see all the colorful buckets of the sweet concoctions while I went into sales mode and explained to this little one all the choices and what each had in them. After a few minutes, we asked her which one she wanted. We would have given her whatever she chose for we are the grandparents. Her tiny response was, “I just want white.” To this day, she still prefers “just white”, or vanilla ice cream, with nothing in it. (What’s even funnier is that her first job was at Culver’s…an ice cream store! Love you, Grace!)
The world offers us a plethora of choices filled with stuff and tells us we need to try them all and have them all. Evil has a way of making these choices attractive, shiny, good for us with “we deserve it” advertisement and promotion. You cannot turn on the TV or browse Facebook without learning of some product you must have for your life to be complete and whole. I think of the time I tried to sell Grace on the many choices she could have but she chose what she wanted most…”just white”.
As believers, what or WHO do we want most? John reminds us that the world with all the choices offered actually work to squeeze God and His best for us out of our lives. We have to be as firm as Grace was with her ice cream choice. To put it simply, our heart’s true desire is God. We must shout it out if we have to, “I just want God and what HE wants!” I just want God’s best for my life. It takes all that God has in us to want all that God has for us. Keep is simple, just want God.
1 John 2, The Message
Part Two
Loving the World
12-13 I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One.
13-14 And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.
15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
ONE LAST THOUGHT…
Our sins are forgiven in Jesus Name. Ask for forgiveness in Jesus Name. Be all that pleases God in Jesus Name. Do all in Jesus Name. It is because of Jesus that we can boldly say, I just want God!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reminding us again what is wanted most in our lives and that is You! You are God and we are not. We need you every hour of every day. YOU are all we want and need to live life well and pleasing to You. Yes, I just want…YOU!
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
