Weekly Bible Readings
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world, 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God abide forever.
Questions/Reflections to Consider
1. What is one question you have after having read this passage?
What is one thought or observation that interests you after having read this passage?
What do you sense this passage might be saying to you personally after having read it?
What do you sense this passage might be saying to our church and leaders after having read it?
For a moment, talk to God, pray, perhaps use the passage and thoughts as a basis for your conversation
15 Jesus said to his disciples:
If you love me, you will do as I command. 16 Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. 17 The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you.
18 I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. 20 Then you will know I am one with the Father. You will know you are one with me, and I am one with you. 21 If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like.
22 The other Judas, not Judas Iscariot, then spoke up and asked, “Lord, what do you mean by saying that you will show us what you are like, but you will not show the people of this world?”
23 Jesus replied:
If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. 24 But anyone who doesn't love me, won't obey me. What they have heard me say doesn't really come from me, but from the Father who sent me.
25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.
Questions/Reflections to Consider
1. What is one question you have after having read this passage?
What is one thought or observation that interests you after having read this passage?
What do you sense this passage might be saying to you personally after having read it?
What do you sense this passage might be saying to our church and leaders after having read it?
For a moment, talk to God, pray, perhaps use the passage and thoughts as a basis for your conversation
15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
Questions/Reflections to Consider
1. What is one question you have after having read this passage?
What is one thought or observation that interests you after having read this passage?
What do you sense this passage might be saying to you personally after having read it?
What do you sense this passage might be saying to our church and leaders after having read it?
For a moment, talk to God, pray, perhaps use the passage and thoughts as a basis for your conversation