Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Opening Scripture

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Opening Prayer

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live. All to Jesus I surrender, make me Savior wholly Thine. Let me feel thy Holy Spirit, truly know that Thou art mine. All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee. Fill me with Thy love and power, let Thy blessing fall on me. In humble gratitude I pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

1 John 2:15-27

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.

I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Reflection  

The apostle John opens today’s reading with a stern warning. It’s important to distinguish here between “world” (cosmos) as a physical planet, human beings, or cultures and behaviors hostile to God.

God created the universe, including our world, and said that it was good. God loves the people who populate the world so much that He sent His Son to die for them. Yet God condemns the corrupt systems and seductive values advanced by Satan, “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we are called to reflect the values of King Jesus. That includes good stewardship of creation, deep love for people, and firm rejection of ungodly passions (namely pride, lust, and greed).

James echoes that final point when he says, “Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” Again, it’s about our passions and priorities, not about our caring for people!

As disciples of the Lord Jesus, our love for God dictates how we live. Our identity “in Christ” guides our daily decisions. Since we have “set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things,” we are constantly “taking off” the filthy clothes of pride, lust, and greed so we can “put on” the clean clothes of humility, goodness, and compassion.

Flourishing Habit

Meaning and Purpose

When people are baptized at our church, we ask them to share their confession of faith, summed up in the historic and powerful statement: Jesus is Lord!

What does it mean for Jesus to be the Lord of your life?

How will being a disciple of Jesus affect the way that you live today?

If someone followed you around, what would they conclude about your passions and priorities? Who or what do you love most? How is that expressed in your daily decisions? Ask God to help you do something today that demonstrates your love for Him.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!