DON’T LET THE WORLD WIN
Daphne Powell
Today’s Scripture: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27, ESV
Theme: As image bearers of God, all people are connected to and loved by Him; however, each person is allowed to choose whether to believe, love, and follow Him.
WHAT DOES FREE WILL MEAN?
Free will does not mean you get to do what you want while on earth. God gave us free will because He wants us to choose Him. As a parent, do you want your kids to love you because they must? No, you want them to freely love you as much as you freely love them. God wants the same; He wants us to choose Him every day in every way. He reveals Himself so that we have the opportunity to believe that His will is best for our life, to choose faith, and to follow Him where He leads.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE?
Have we allowed the world to dictate our beliefs? What do you believe? Have you ever been shown a Scripture and then your belief changes or feels validated? But did you read the verse before and after? Do you read the entire chapter or book of the Bible? Did you dig deep to see who wrote the book and to whom it was written? So many Jesus followers are citing Scripture yet not following the living example, Jesus Himself. He walked this earth so we could see how He treated people, what He did for others, and how He loved His father. If you truly believe, walk it; don’t just talk it.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE?
Remember the song “Jesus Loves Me?" Remember this part? “This I know for the Bible tells me so.” But do you really know it? If you felt His great love, would you have room in your heart for hate? If you really knew what love was, would you treat people poorly? The world preaches conditional love, that we get to choose who we love. That a sinner doesn’t get the same love as a Jesus follower. Jesus followers, just a reminder: you are a sinner, too. So be glad God doesn’t have the same conditions you place on others.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW HIM?
Have you read the bumper sticker that says, “If you can read this, you’re following too close.” True in the driving world but not in His kingdom. God wants us to stay in His Word, to want to walk with Him. When Jesus met each disciple, He said, “Follow me.” They dropped everything and followed Him. What does it look like today to be a disciple? Do we have to drop everything to follow Him? That answer comes from prayer. Following Him could be going out and telling a stranger about your testimony. Following Him could be giving the person on the corner holding a sign your last ten dollars. Following Him could simply mean serving at church. The problem with the world is it tries to keep us busy, too busy to follow Him. If you woke up this morning and you can’t find time for Him, you’re letting the world win.
Make It Personal: It took me a long time to get to a place of peace. But once there, I realized that the energy I put out to hate and harm interrupted that. I learned that when we spend our energy building walls rather than loving God’s children, we lose our peace and rest. Everything starts with love, first for Him, then yourself, and that love will then flow onto others.
Pray: Dear Lord, please hear my prayer to open the hearts of so many Jesus followers who are following the world and not you. It’s not because they do not love You, Lord, but because they do not stay in Your Word enough to be able to discern what the world is saying and what Your will is instead. Give us all discernment and a clear call to love one another. Amen
Read: Galatians 5:13, Romans 4:20-21, Luke 6:35, 1 King 18:21
Weekly Memory Verse: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35, ESV