We are covering the three enemies described in the catechism’s description of “lead us not into temptation” from the Lord’s Prayer. Those being, the Devil, the World, and our Sinful Nature. Yesterday’s message was about the Devil, today the World.

Why is the world our enemy? Because the priorities of the world are contrary to God’s will. 1 John 2:16 says, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” NLT

We are here to serve and bring glory to God, but the World tempts us to serve and glorify ourselves. It is interesting too, how our marketers and advertisers have become expert in attracting us to those things of this world that draw us away from God and crowd him out of our time and attention. Tabloids, Gossip, Sports, Money, Toys, the list is endless; there are so many things in this world to entertain us. The world also condones and even promotes behaviors and activities that we all know in our hearts are wrong (“what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”).

The peer pressure to focus on these things is also powerful. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 Paul writes, ” Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ.”

Ultimately the risk is, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:26 “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul.”

Dear Lord, Help us avoid mis-prioritizing the things in this world over you and your will. Help us to recognize and reject those things in the world that are opposed to you and are drawing us toward destruction. Help us see and be thankful, to you, for the good things in this world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.