UNFURL
THAT GRIP
BREAD
15 Do not
love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful
man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not
from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who
does the will of God lives forever. 1
John 2:15-17 (NIV)
10 But
the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a
roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in
it will be laid bare. 11 Since
everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its
coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and
the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward
to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since
you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless,
blameless and at peace with him. 2 Peter
3:10-14 (NIV)
23 Then
he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he
must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For
whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me
will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet
lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke
9:23-25 (NIV)
20 At
this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the
ground in worship 21 and
said: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the
Lord be praised.” Job 1:20-21 (NIV)
6 But
godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6-7
(NIV)
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of
the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I
tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of
these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is
here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe
you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What
shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For
the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you
need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:28-33 (NIV)
1 Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to
the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good,
pleasing and perfect will. Romans
12:1-2 (NIV)
BUTTER
“If you are not
impacting the world for Jesus - you are wasting your time.” Anonymous
“Christians
don’t fail to live as they should because they are in the world; they fail
because the world has gotten into them.
We don’t fail to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit because we live in
a sea of corruption; we fail because the sea of corruption has gotten into
us…..Most ocean-going ships have pumps running constantly, sucking out any
water that might have leaked into the hull.
Similarly, we need to keep the ‘pumps’ of repentance running. We need to plug the holes with the truth of
God’s Word. Don’t let the world sink
your ship!” Billy Graham
“The Pharisees, who loved
money, heard all this, and could not contradict him, but they sneered at
him. Let us consider this as their sin,
and the fruit of their covetousness, which was their primary sin. Many who make a great profession of religion
and abound in the exercise of devotion, are yet ruined by the love of the
world. These covetous Pharisees could
not bear to have that touched, which was their Delilah, their darling lust; for
this they derided him, they turned up their noses at him, or blew their noses
on him. It is an expression of the
utmost scorn and disdain imaginable.
They laughed at him for going so contrary to the opinion and way of the
world. It is common for those to make a
joke of the word of God who are resolved that they will not be ruled by it.” Matthew Henry
“Confidence
in the natural world is self-reliance; in the spiritual world it is
God-reliance.” Oswald Chambers
“Oh that
I may be roused out of my slumber, and be watchful and ready against the coming
of my Bridegroom...Even the wise virgins fell asleep. Let this be a warning to me, O Lord. Set thou a guard before my eyes, ears, and
other faculties, lest the world again should enter through these avenues of the
heart; if the spark be not speedily extinguished, it will soon break out into a
flame: thus sin is of a progressive
nature, and its venom spreads very quickly and very wide, unless it be stopped
and opposed in time. Watch, therefore,
over this unsteady heart of mine, O Thou Keeper of Israel; that as soon as it
begins to wander from Thee, I may be alarmed to flee from sin as from a
serpent. Give me grace to look upon
every hour as my last; so that being ever wisely upon my guard I may meet Thee
with joy when my time is run out, whenever it shall please Thee to call me
hence.” K. H. Von Bogatzky
“This
world and that to come are two enemies.
We cannot therefore be friends to both.” Clement
of Rome
“Do
not let the false delights of a deceptive world deceive you.” Clare
of Assisi
“The hero is one
who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark
streets of life for men to see by.” Felix Adler
“If you keep in step with God, be out of step with the world.” Anonymous
“Dear
Sir: Regarding your article ‘What's Wrong with the World?’ I am. Yours truly,”
— G. K. Chesterton
— G. K. Chesterton
HEART
SAVOR
- · If I want to make a difference for Christ I cannot blend with the world.
- · The world woos with deception, Christ woos with love.
- · Godliness with contentment is great gain.
