< Back
Listen: 1 John 2

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15

John delivers a powerful statement about undivided affection. He doesn’t leave room for compromise—believers must choose between loving God or loving the world that opposes God’s truth. For John’s original audience, this meant rejecting the pagan values of Roman society that glorified power, wealth and sensual pleasure. Love wasn’t just an emotion. Love also involves where people direct their attention and affection. Some early Christians were tempted to maintain allegiance to both Roman values and God’s kingdom values. John challenges this divided loyalty with stark clarity: loving the world pushes out love for the Father.

We constantly face the choice between loving God or the world. Our hearts naturally drift toward whatever captures our attention. When we focus on worldly values and desires, our affection for those things grows, pushing out our love for God. The opposite is equally true: when we focus on God’s truth and goodness, our love for him grows stronger, diminishing our attraction to worldly values. The devil’s lies and our flesh’s desires tempt us to pay attention to what God identifies as sinful. Each day presents countless opportunities to choose where we’ll direct our love. Whatever we consistently focus on shapes what we ultimately love.

TODAY: Pray this simple prayer throughout the day: “God, help me to love what you love and hate what you hate.” When you encounter situations that tempt you away from God’s truth, pause and repeat this prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to align your heart with God’s, helping you recognize what truly deserves your attention and affection. Notice how God begins to reshape your desires.