Sunday, October 27, 2024

PT-2 "Introduction to 1 John 2:15-17"

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/27/2024 9:27 PM

 

My Worship Time                                                   Focus:  PT-2 “Introduction to 1 John 2:15-17”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                    Reference:  1 John 2:15-17

 

            Message of the verses:  15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

 

            John MacArthur entitles this eighth chapter in his commentary on 1 John “The Love God Hates,” and after reading these verses one will be able to understand why he used that title for these verses. 

 

            I want to quote from Paul’s letter to Timothy, the second letter that he wrote to Timothy which was written very close to the end of Paul’s life, and in that letter Paul reflected on his many years of faithful ministry.

 

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8  in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

 

 

MacArthur writes “Having ministered boldly and obediently, Paul was eager to see his Savior and receive his eternal reward.  Yet at the same time Paul was acutely concerned about those whom he would leave behind (cf. Phil. 1:21-24).  One such individual Timothy, Paul’s close ministry companion and son in the faith (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:1).  And while Paul was confident in the spiritual integrity of his disciple (2 Tim. 1:5), he also knew that Timothy, as a young man (cf. 1 Tim. 4:12), was vulnerable to certain temptations.  For that reason, in his final epistle, the apostle exhorted his young protégé to remain strong and courageous: 

 

I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God…Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. (2 Tim. 1:6-8,  13-14).”

 

            MacArthur continues to talk about “Paul continued by reminding Timothy of the astonishing and sobering reality that many had already deserted him:  ‘You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among those are Phygelus and Hermogenes’ (2 Tim. 1:15).  But perhaps the most notorious defector among Paul’s associates appears in 2 Timothy 4:10 ‘Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.’ Demas had likely been a coworker with Paul for many years and had ministered with such noble colleagues as Crescens, Titus, Luke, Mark, Tychicus (vv. 10-12).  Epaphras, and Aristarchus (Col. 4:13-14; Philem. 23-24).  Yet despite having long been in the presence of such formidable men of God—preachers of the Word, authors of Scriptures, church planters, faithful servants, men of prayer, and men who suffered for the gospel—Demas utterly abandoned Paul and the members of his team.”

 

            This may not be the best spot to finish this SD, but Lord willing I will pick up where I left off in the next SD. 

 

10/27/2024 9:49 PM

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