February 1st - the beginning of a new month! "Thank You, Father for seeing us safely through January and allowing us to begin February." And He is allowing us to begin it with a pleasant, sunny day!
Another exciting thing about today is that I get to print out new "blessing" pages for the month of February. On those pages, with the Lord's help, I would like to write down at least one thing each day that I am thankful for.
I also weigh again and begin new exercise goals. I didn't achieve the exercise goals for last month but will assess what was done and not done and determine new goals for the new month.
Love Not the World
Today I continue the study of the subject, “Set Your Affection on Things Above.” There are three more sets of verses I have picked out on this subject. Today’s verses are I John 2:15-17, “15Love 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. 16For 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. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Oh, how much is in these verses! However, I will try to just draw out a few thoughts.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” because “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof.” All that is in the world is not of the Father. All of it will pass away. I do need money, food, and raiment for life on this earth, but even these things will pass away. Although I ought to care for my home and body in as good a manner as God allows, I must not be taken up with these things. They are only temporary. I am just staying here until I move to my real home, my heavenly home. If things get taken away on this earth, I should not get upset. They will pass away some day anyway. My life here is only going to last a limited time.
Love not the world because all that is in it entices the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of live. Whatever the world offers is never enough. There is always more – better house, better car, better food, more money, more knowledge, and so forth. But all are to perish with the using and none of it can satisfy. (See John 6:27 and Ecclesiastes 5:10)
I ought to seek Christ because “the world paasseth away and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)