Is the love of the father in you?

1 John 2:14 - 17 : King James Version
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The bible is talking to Christians ? If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. The love of the world is defined as ?the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life?.

This is the question, is the love of the father in you? Will you take a better paid job than fulfill the plan of God for your life? Will you go for the pride of life in job positions than obey God? Will you rather buy that expensive car than obey the father and use the money to do something else that He wants you to do? Yes you go to church, but is the love of the father in you?

The answer is clear, for the scripture says, ?if any man?, loves the world, the love of the father is not in him.

*Worldliness can be internal, for it begins in the heart. It is characterized by three attitudes:
a) lust of the flesh - preoccupation with gratifying physical desires
b) lust of the eyes - materialism
c) pride of life - obsession with ones status or importance
*(Life application study bible)

This does not mean that a person is not born again. It simply means that the love for the world has consumed the love for God in their heart. For the bible says that the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit given unto us (Romans 5:5). We all have what it takes to love God.

When you disobey the father because of worldly things (the positions, pride, power, deceit of riches), remember that they will all pass away and one day you will have to give account to God.

Let us love God. We all have the capacity to be consumed with His love.
All we need to do is yield ourselves to His love, which is in our hearts.

If you feel dry and indifferent, cry out for His help. Ask Him to do a work in your heart and spend time in His presence.

Lets allow our love for Him to consume us and direct out lives.

Bisi Oladipupo
Posted 28 February 2006