Love Him with a Faithful Heart

Michael E. Wood
October 13, 2011

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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1st John 2:15-17

The things of this world are not of necessity, things we can hold in our hands. Though the things we can hold in our hands is understood we must also include the things we hold in our hearts or our minds, which in and of themselves can become idols when held above the pursuit, the excellence, and the surpassing worth which is found in knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us therefore count all things as rubbish, in order that we may gain Christ and be found in Him; not having a righteousness of our own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. Philippians 3:8, 9 (emphasis mine)

Approbation, affirmation,
These are things we need not of
From the world, as they are fleeting
And will hinder works of love,
If we take the time to revel
And in them to take delight,
But their passing fancy fadeth
When exposed by God’s pure light.
And from them we are delivered
By the merit of God’s Son
Who our victory obtaineth
As the risen living One
Who forever intercedeth
Till in full we shall obtain,
He the prize for which we striveth
As His truth is not in vain.
For it is the means by which
He sanctifieth every part
That we may in full assurance
Love Him with a faithful heart.