Devotions with Pastor Jared

1 John 2: 15 – 17 says: 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.

God has called His people, the Church, to be a people unique and set apart from the rest of the world. In Galatians 5, we find a list of what a Christian’s attitude should look like, described as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. While many people are quick to reference the fruit of the Spirit, we don’t speak as often about how this fruit is set in opposition to the fruit of the Flesh (or the sinful lifestyle). Galatians 5:19 – 20 says: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Compare this idea with what is said in 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. We were called out of darkness, the same darkness that the world calls light. We cannot be salt and light (Matthew 5:13 – 16) if we are still doing the works of the flesh.

Consider the command in 1 John 2 with the validation in 1 Peter 2. Do not gratify the desires of the flesh, and take up your mantle of the Royal Priesthood!
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Pastor Jared