forget the world
guide : one
MARK 8:36
"what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"
What worldly desires or pursuits have you been chasing that might be costing you your spiritual peace? How can you redirect your focus toward what truly matters for your soul?
the world will not give you what you desire. searching for your peace or joy in the world will never result in gaining such things. the only path to true peace is to forget the world. abandon desires of the world. seek the Spirit only, seek to serve God with all you do. this verse shows that your soul is not of the world. your soul is of heaven. when you look for your satisfaction in the world, you lose your soul and you forfeit your chance for feeling true peace and joy.
1 JOHN 2:15
"do not love the world or anything in the world. if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them."
What aspects of the world are you still clinging to that prevent you from fully loving God? How can you make the choice to be 'hot for God' rather than lukewarm?
to love God, is to not love the world. loving the world means you cannot love God. you cannot love God and the world. you cannot serve the flesh and the Spirit at the same time, they are incompatible. be all in on the Spirit, on God. don't go halfway. the tempter preys on the weak, on the lukewarm. be hot for God, full of the fire of the Spirit. love God, nothing else. not money, not sex, not material possessions of any kind, not fame, nothing but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - God.
GALATIANS 5:17
"for the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish."
How do you experience this internal battle between your flesh and the Spirit? What strategies help you choose the Spirit over your worldly desires?
overcome the world by keeping the commands of God and believing that Jesus is His Son. Jesus who is born of the Holy Spirit is the path to escaping the inevitable destruction of a life dedicated to the world. dedicate yourself to Christ and be saved.
1 JOHN 5:3-5
"in fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. and His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. who is it that overcomes the world? only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
How has your faith in Jesus as the Son of God helped you overcome worldly struggles? What commands of God do you find most life-giving rather than burdensome?
overcome the world by keeping the commands of God and believing that Jesus is His Son. Jesus who is born of the Holy Spirit is the path to escaping the inevitable destruction of a life dedicated to the world. dedicate yourself to Christ and be saved.
JOHN 15:19
"if you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. as it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. that is why the world hates you."
How have you experienced the world's rejection or hatred because of your faith? How does knowing that Jesus has chosen you out of the world give you comfort and strength?
Jesus rescues us from the world. this is a message from Jesus to His disciples. so if you follow Jesus, He will rescue you and take you out of the danger of the world. when you follow Jesus wholeheartedly the way His disciples did you will not have to worry about the struggles and suffering that comes from life in the world.
MATTHEW 6:33
"but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
What does it look like in your daily life to seek God's kingdom first? How has God provided for your needs when you've prioritized serving Him over worldly concerns?
forgetting the world doesn't mean you have to be destitute. God will provide for you if you serve Him fully. make your work serving to God. work for the benefit of God. spread His word, do good for the poor, do something that God would want you to do. He will make sure you are taken care of when you do this.