Saturday, March 5, 2016 Thy Will Be Done
Do not love the
world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father
is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust
of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father
but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does
the will of God lives forever. 1 John
2:15-17
Desires
of the flesh…desires of the eyes…pride in possessions. The sinful human nature
always seeks selfish things and is tempted to covet, abuse, and control all
things. It finds false security in wealth and is proud of accumulated
possessions that show off that wealth. God is not the source of sin, sinful
desires, or the works of sin.
Luther:
“First, the lust of the flesh must be overcome, and this is done more easily.
Second, and this is more difficult, the lust of the eyes, for it cannot be
deserted all at once, like the first, but it fails gradually. Finally, the most
difficult is the pride of life. It, too, is born of victory over vices.
Therefore, this is not overcome though it be left desolate or fail, unless it perish,
altogether because of its iniquity. It is most harmful kind of vice which
unjustly divides between God’s glory and self-confusion.” (AE 10:429)[1]
Whose
will and plans are opposed to the will of God? The devil, the world, and our
own sinful nature oppose the good and gracious will of God.[2]
O God, you know us to
be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty
of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and
protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all
temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.[3]
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