Devotionary

This is episode four on 1 John chapter 2, verses 12-17. It’s entitled, “Self-gratification” because that seems to be one of the main points John is trying to make. Love of the world is ultimately love of self. We don’t really love the world. We simply love what we believe the world can offer us. It holds out a host of tempting allurements that it offers in return for our time, attention and affections. It is the same tactic Satan used on Jesus during His time in the wilderness. Matthew records, “Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ‘I will give it all to you,’ he said, ‘if you will kneel down and worship me’” (Matthew 4:8-9 NLT). Satan, the prince of this world is always seeking to get us to turn our love for God on to ourselves. He wants us to make it all about us. But self-love is ultimately self-destructive. And our love affair with the world is nothing more than a not-so-subtle ploy to make life all about us.