Monday, 14 November 2016

Devotional Monday 14/11/16 – John 17:16 Let me say again “They are not of this world”

10:57 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments

It’s not just blatant sinful activities that we can become accustomed to, it’s the pervading secular mind-set.
To meditate/pray upon
John 17:14-16I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”
1 John 2:15-17 ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.’
Jesus repeats (as we saw last week) this idea that Christians are not of this world. 
Like the proverbial frog in hot water, we can grow accustomed and complacent toward the unbelieving worlds’ values and activities. It’s not just blatant sinful activities that we become accustomed to, it’s the pervading secular mind-set; too easily we seek solutions to problems not in prayer and the application of scripture, but in the methods that are prescribed in our secular culture.
An example of this is Materialism; this is an obvious obsession to many. The belief that there is no spiritual world, only material, with the accompanying desire to find fulfilment in possessions is ubiquitous. But is this a ‘faith’ that we have imbibed? Do you see wealth as God’s gift to be used for His service or your fulfilment?
How are you doing in this?
A really good exercise to help to sharpen our spiritual senses is fasting. I dare you to take a 3-day fast from all entertainment that is not directly Christ centred.
Take some time to pray (with your spouse if married) about your generosity and giving to the church in particular. If you have children, take time to teach them about how the use of money is so vital.
You can catch up on all the messages in the John series at:

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