cravings

¹² Little children, I’m writing to you because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus’ name. ¹³ Parents, I’m writing to you because you have known the one who has existed from the beginning. Young people, I’m writing to you because you have conquered the evil one. ¹⁴ Little children, I write to you because you know the Father. Parents, I write to you because you have known the one who has existed from the beginning. Young people, I write to you because you are strong, the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the evil one. ¹⁵ Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:12-17, CEB)

Love God and nothing else.

This passage made me think of the song If You Wanted Me by Todd Agnew. Todd talks about all the things around us that are so right in creation and made for us, that we aren’t supposed to love. Because God’s creation is a temptation.

But if we love God and follow God, God will work in and through us to show love to the world.

We all have things to over come and gifts to use. Let us all love God and allow God to work in and through us so the kingdom will come.

Love People. Love God.

Here are the lyrics for If you Wanted Me and a video for your enjoyment.

I’ll admit I’m glad we’re not disciples
Out on a lake paralyzed with fright
Cause I’m afraid I might have laughed at Peter
Until he stepped into that stormy night
If You wanted me to walk on water
Why’d You make the solid ground seem so right?

And I’ll admit I’m glad I’m not King David
Ruling over everything I see
Cause I think I’ve fallen for more than Bathsheba
Your creation’s a temptation for me
If You wanted me to love You only
Why’d you make the moonlight sparkle in her eyes?

I’ll admit I’m glad I’m not John the Baptist
In a jail cell waiting for my day to die
Cause at least down here I know what we’re chasing
And it’s hard to trust Your dreams are so much better than mine
But if You wanted me to die to myself
Why’d You make me fall so deeply in love with life?

If You wanted me to surrender
Why’d You make these hands able to hold on so tight?
So tight?

And if You wanted me to be like You
Why’d You make me like me?