Do Not Love the World (Part 3)

 Do Not Love the World (Part 3)

Love 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. For 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever (1 John 2:15-17 KJV).

The last forbidden love is the pride of life. Oh, how we love to be flattered. The devil tries Jesus one more time with this great temptation.

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone (Luke 4:9-11 KJV).

Jesus didn’t need to prove Himself. So, He responds to the devil: "It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Luke 4:12 KJV).

Who has not felt the urge to give a mocker his due reward? Whose pride has not tempted him to prove his prowess. Let us flee this temptation, for A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit (Proverbs 29:23 KJV).

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation (Luke 20:46-47 KJV). 

What do you have that you did not receive from the Lord? Does God need you to accomplish His will? Would you try to steal God’s glory? God forbid. Flee the flattering lips. Close your ears; do not allow the pride of life to take you captive. Give God the glory due His name.

Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:6-8 KJV).