1 John 2:15–17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
We know we are to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and actions. There are to be no close seconds. God is to be our consuming passion. It is for him that we are to constantly yearn. He is never to be far from our minds. We are never to cease communing with him in intimate prayer.
We know we are to love those created in God’s image. From the inside out, we are to serve our spouses, children, parents, relatives, church members, coworkers, neighbors, foreigners … and even our enemies. We worship God rightly as we consistently consider others better than ourselves.
We know we are not to “love the world or the things in the world.” Materialism, hedonism, and arrogance are descriptive of Satan. They are characteristic of the ungodly man and his culture. This is not the norm for those of us who have the “love of the Father.” We have higher fantasies. We have greater beings and things to love. This is the will of God.
However, temptations abound, and old loves keep showing up again. We continue to not love God and man as we ought. In addition, we perpetually struggle with the sins of materialism, hedonism and arrogance.
Therefore, we engage again in Gospel repentance and Gospel worship.
Gospel Repentance – Turning from our foolish thinking and focusing on our wise, just, merciful, and gracious Savior.
How do we struggle with materialism?
Where is hedonism running wild in our lives?
How do we arrogantly think, speak, and live?
How can people like us be declared perfect and holy?
What does it mean to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness?
What has the Just Judge done with our all sin, guilt, condemnation, and punishment?
Gospel Worship – Desiring to respond to Your grace, Spirit of God …
Help us to think with the mind of Christ, to set our minds on things above, and to seek first the King and his kingdom!
Help us love you supremely! Holy Spirit, fall fresh on us and fruit us with your love!
Help us love those you love! You tell us we love because you first loved us. Would you, in an extra-special way, inflame our love for you today?
Help us love what you love! Because we love you, we want to keep your commandments! We long for the love of Christ to control us!
Help us by leading us not into temptation but delivering us from evil!
Help us stand against the devil while fleeing forbidden lusts and putting to death the deeds of the flesh. We are counting on your grace to train us to renounce ungodliness, worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. Would you kick it up a notch?
Help us to hate our forbidden loves!
Help us to not be self-righteously arrogant and engage in Gospel repentance more and more as the Day approaches.
2 Corinthians 5:6–9 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
Unfathomable Grace 
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