Desires Pt. 3 Lust and Lies

1 John 2:15 – 16 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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life—is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Does a Happy Meal make you a happy? Sounds like a crazy question, but just entertain me for a few more words. Our culture is bombarded daily with concepts and forced perceptions that, when we really think about them, in no way align with reality. The infiltration of these perceptions has been dictated by the world, leaving God’s perception, the only true reality for believers, by the wayside.

Happy Meals may have put a smile on our faces as kids, but as we grow we realize that those nuggets and fries have absolutely no nutritional value. Frankly, the only thing that is happy about a Happy Meal is its name.

Just as we did with Happy Meals when we were kids, so go our relationships. We get so sucked up into a proverbial vacuum of adhering to what the world calls “relationship” that we often end up in situations that fill us for the moment, but contain absolutely no weight in sustaining us.

Think about it. They satisfy physical desires—I eat good tasting food. (Lust of the flesh). They tickle the want for enticing possessions—because what’s a Happy Meal without the toy? (Lust of the eyes) And one gets to feel satisfied that he/she has complied with the external pressure and societal expectation by having something everyone else has—everyone is getting a Happy Meal, why can’t I?(Pride of life). And the Word said that this “is not from the Father but is from the world.”

Let God’s perception by your reality, not the world’s.

Prayer:

Father, sometimes it’s easy to confuse what you want for my life with what feels, sounds, looks and taste good to me at the moment. By the power of the Holy Spirit which resides in me, please don’t allow me to fall victim to the lust of my flesh, the lust of my eyes or the pride of life. Help me discern the lies of the enemies and empower me with your word every day of my life. Thank you Lord for making your perception my reality. In Jesus name, Amen.