Good morning ladies!

I took last week off because of Memorial Day, so we’re back today for week 7. But I’ll be pausing here for the summer as I leave very soon for the Italy and England retreats. I’ll start back up in mid-August. (Check out the video below for a sneak peek of our 2025 retreat)

For today’s Bible study, we’re looking at the our own faithfulness and what responsibility we have in that. So I want to take a look at what John tells us in 1 John 2. Now in context here, John is exhorting us to live a life of godliness by walking in the light of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross for our sins. 

John understands that we will still have temptations and we will not be sinless or perfect, but he is encouraging us to live transformed lives.

Lives that are growing in faith, abiding in Christ, and realizing that “We are in the world, but not OF the world”...  (Romans 12:2)

Listen to what 1 John 2:15-17 instructs us to do:

“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. 16 For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—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.”

I don’t know about you, but I was always puzzled, and kind of convicted, by these verses… not that we shouldn’t be convicted. But, I thought it was talking about the world in the sense of loving a place like Bellagio, Italy or our love for being by the beach, or maybe even the joys of life?

What John is saying is far from that.  He’s not talking about the beauty of God’s creation or the entirety of the world we live in.  God’s creation is amazing and beautiful and lovely, and we must never put any of it ABOVE our love of God.  But, John is referring to worldliness, i.e. devoting ourselves to this temporal life and the sinful behavior that this world lusts after. 

What “world” John is referring to is the sinfulness of humanity that seeks to rebel against God.  This started from the very beginning with Eve, the tower of Babel, and so forth.  It continues when we rebel against God by following after the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Living as he world does… putting anything (money, power, government, pride, things…) over the love of God. 

John knew, even back in ancient times, (and God obviously knew) that it’s easy to fall in love with this world.  Just look at how far we’ve come.  Look at the way our modern culture is advertising the world to us.  From a young age we want what we see, we desire what makes us feel good, we envision “the good life” with health, wealth and happiness.  We want the world to acknowledge our accomplishments.  We want it “My Way” as the song goes.  The list goes on and on.

But God calls us to live our lives for Him. To focus on His love, His faithfulness… not the love of the world.  

We are called to be loyal, unwavering, “steadfast in our affection or allegiance,” faithful followers of Jesus Christ IN this world. 

Born Again to a Living Hope!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,  who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9

Here are 3 ways we can be “Found Faithful” in a world that is progressively falling away from God’s truth:

1.“Feed your faith - starve your doubts.”  John C. Maxwell 

 Philippians 4:8 says: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  

Let us train (and feed) our minds to think on THESE things.

2. “The more truth you believe, the more sanctified you will be. The operation of truth upon the mind is to separate a man from the world unto the service of God.” Charles H. Spurgeon 

John 17:16-17 says: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” 

What an incredible thing to see Jesus praying for you and I to be sanctified unto God! Let us remember (and dwell) where truth is found: in God’s Word. 

3. “False doctrine cannot prevail long where the sacred Scriptures are read and studied. Error prevails only where the book of God is withheld from the people. The religion that fears the Bible is not the religion of God.” Clarke 

2 Timothy 3:14-17 says:  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God  may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  

Let us pray for hearts that love, abide, and increase in faith through studying the inspired Word of God.

Friends, this world is passing away, but let us find our true home in Jesus Christ. Let us live our lives with our eyes on Jesus, set apart for His glory, honor and worship!

Daily Prompt:

Take some time to really think about where your heart and time are spent. Journal ways in which this study brought light to areas of your life that may need praying over. Write in your journal one of the verses I shared today and try to memorize it over the summer. What was your favorite quote from above?

Art Applications:

This is your time to PLAY. I know these are hard questions and a convicting topic. I know if my own life, Bible Journaling has always been such a beautiful time of worship for me as I use my creativity to draw closer to the Lord… literally! Take time this summer to do that. Get out your Journaling Bible or a sketchbook and pray over it before you start. Be creative and praise the Lord during it. Put on some worship music, get out your paints and create as a form of worship! I’d love to see what you do with this, so please feel free to send me an email with your creative play time!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these studies on faithfulness. Again, I’ll be taking a break for our retreats this summer, but come back in the fall and we’ll start back up again.

Also, if you are praying about joining us here next summer, the 2025 retreat is up on our registration page HERE. There are some spots left, but they are going fast!

Here’s a Sneak Peak…

Have a GREAT Monday everyone!

You can follow along on IG as we’ll be sharing Reels and photos from both retreats. I look forward to meeting so many of you that are joining us this year and next!

Hugs to all,

Laura McCollough