LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil

Wednesday 11th March 2026

A NEW LIFESTYLE

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. *1 John 2:15

No matter how spiritually mature we are, we need the voice of warning and exhortation, to keep us from the evils to which we are exposed. As believers, we have been brought out of “a world which lies in wickedness:” yet we are still exposed to temptations. In addition, our flesh is unregenerated in nature and ever liable to be ensnared by sin. 

What does the passage mean by ‘do not love the world or the things in the world?’ Does it mean the land, waters, vegetation, and animal life? Of course not. The world here refers to the temporal pleasures that are opposed to that which is eternal. The world offers us things that make us happy now. Those whose only desire is to be happy in the here and now, do not seek eternal things.

The scriptures do not teach that we should have nothing to do with anything that happens in our world. On the contrary, the Lord Jesus charges us to be salt to the earth and light to the world. We must engage our world without allowing its love of the temporary to become our priority. We must seek to point the world to what is eternal and godly. 

The world offers sensual gratification and feeds our sense of self-importance. These are opposite to what Christ calls us to. Christ calls us to please God and serve others.

Those who live for physical pleasure alone cannot live for God as well. When we live for God, we love the things that are important to Him. We should see life from His point of view and live to please Him in all we do.

Where is your love? Is it for the short-term pleasures of the world, or the eternal purposes of God?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, turn my heart away from the things of the world. Let my desires only be towards you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.