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 in possessions—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.

1 John 2:15-17

The banner above reflects a desire many of us have, do you agree? We may want to have a fire or passion for God in our life, but we face many competing desires in our lives.

In the brief passage above, John is reminding us that the pursuit of physical/emotional needs, things or success will leave us with an empty feeling in the end. Only a love that abides in the will of God will last forever.

Where are our priorities? Really. Most of us would answer that we love God above all other things, but is it possible that many of us are trapped by the same desires?

Which of these three most clearly motivates you? (1) the drive to meet their physical needs, (2) the drive to get things, or (3) the drive to succeed?

John presents a simple solution. If I want to have a fire in my soul for God, I choose to say no to the things in this world and yes to God’s way of thinking and acting.