Bubbles

1 John 2:15-17
I took some kids from the group home to an event on the weekend, which is always interesting with 5 kids as they want to take off in all directions. At one point two of the boys took off towards a tent that had a bubble machine because they wanted to try to pop the bubbles (of course). Life in our culture is so like that. There are all kinds of distractions being thrown our way and if we're not careful we'll go running after those things. The apostle John warns us of this, "¹⁵Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.¹⁶For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].¹⁷And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever (Amplified Bible)." There are oh so many things that draw us in, seeking to take our eyes off that which God is calling us to. It seems that hating the materialistic, self-centered way this world operates is the only way we can be focused on God and not be led off to whatever the next fad or gadget is that we are told we need in our lives. Unfortunately, for those attracted to these things they will get a whole bunch of stuff and never find any meaning in it, and their bubble will burst. Trying to grab on to stuff in this world is like trying to grab bubbles, it is here one moment and gone the next. Doing God's will and seeking the Kingdom of God and its treasure is the only thing that will last, as for the stuff in this world, well, all of it ultimately ends up in a landfill. What will you choose to pursue?
Pray for eyes that are fixed on the eternal, not the temporal.

The Christian song that goes with today's devotion is "The Lust, the Flesh, the Eyes, and the Pride of Life" by Smalltown Poets. I can't find anything but an mp3 for this song - link is above.