1Jn 2:16-17 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. (17) And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Some of my favorite verses in the New Testament come from the books of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. The way he instructs and cares for those he was discipling reminds me a bit of Jesus himself. His care and love is evident in how he teaches the young men that must have surrounded him.

These verses speak to me in a most profound way. John is exhorting me today to keep my hearts desire on the things of the Lord, not on the things of the flesh, and to do the will of the Lord. The desires of my flesh are of this world and the world is passing away.  Whoever does the will of God abides forever. John goes from our desire to our doing… from the ways of the world to abiding with Christ.

For me, to abide in Christ means I need to forfeit my desires of the things of the flesh. I don’t think it means I can’t have a home, a car etc.. rather, John is saying that when my desires align with the Lord then I am doing His will.

Where are your desires today? Do you spend most of your time pursuing the things of the flesh or doing the will of God in your life? As I ask myself these questions I can’t help but take an assessment of my life and ask the Lord to prune the things of the flesh out as I seek to abide more and more with Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to abide in you and be in your will by desiring the things you desire. I heard it said that if I don’t desire you as my everything now, what makes me think that I will desire you for eternity? Help me to seek after your will and put my fleshly desires away. Amen