Derrick Duong

What is your worldview? The fact that we often see and hear about activities of darkness, wickedness and sinfulness and that we are bombarded by bad news each day such as earthquakes, coronavirus, protests, shootings, wildfire and the like does not necessarily mean that the world belongs to the king of darkness. Let us make no mistake and believe that this world is out of God’s great Hand. The world we’re living in forever belongs to our Heavenly Father. The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Ps. 24:1). The heavens are His, and His also the earth; the Lord founded the world and all that is in it (Ps. 89:11). God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne (Ps. 47:8). Our Father is forever taking control over the world, and He never stops loving the world since the first day of His creation. God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him (Jn. 3:16-17). With this new set of eyes to see the world, we’re able to embrace this broken world and be ready to participate in God’s redemptive world mission.

Reflections:

1. The Apostle John warned us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (1Jn. 2:15). How do you differentiate between the way you love the world and that of the Father’s? 
2. What changes do you need to make in order to love this world as the Father does? What do you have to offer to this world with the blessings you received from the Father?

Does embracing and loving this broken world mean that you have to belong to it? Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (Jn. 15:19). How do you prepare yourself to be treated by the world?