Dangerous desires!

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Dangerous Desires

You might wonder what I’m talking about. That’s a strong phrase… dangerous desires.

In my devotion today, I read this verse:

“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 the 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

At first, I paused. Something didn’t quite sit right. So I asked God, “Wait… didn’t You love the world? Don’t You still love it? You even gave Your Son for this world. What about John 3:16?”

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16

So how can You tell us not to love the world when You Yourself do?

Now I was confused.
So I asked Him, sincerely:
"Can You please explain it to me, Lord?"

Have you ever had one of those moments where God answers you—not in thunder or lightning, but in a quiet whisper that speaks directly to your soul?

Well… this time, I did.

And this is what He said to me:

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There are two different kinds of love.

1. God’s love is self-sacrificing.

It’s the love that led Jesus to the cross.
It’s a love that seeks to save, redeem, heal, and restore. That’s the kind of love we’re called to show to the world—to people. A love that lays itself down for the good of others.

2. The other kind of love is self-uplifting.

It’s the kind of love that feeds on:

• the cravings of sinful man

• the lust of the eyes

• the boasting of what one has and does

It’s a love that says, “What can I get?” instead of “How can I give?”

And then I understood.
The love God warns us about is the kind that pulls us away from Him and toward ourselves.

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But this revelation didn’t end there.

It turned inward. It hit close to home.

Because I had to look at myself and admit:
I am a woman with many desires.
(Or to soften it a little: many wishes.)

• I wish to be better than I am today.

• I wish to serve God better than I’m doing now.

• I wish to create more, to be more creative.

• I wish to know more people.

• I wish to be the one helping, not the one needing help.

• I wish to be successful in every area of my life.

And you might say, “But those aren’t bad desires.”

And you’d be right.
They aren’t—unless my focus shifts.
Unless I begin doing it all for me, instead of for Him.

Because all these things take time, attention, energy—and it’s easy to be sidetracked.
To chase the dream more than the Giver.
To want the blessing more than the One who blesses.

And that’s what God was reminding me today.
Be careful with your desires.
Even good desires can become dangerous if they lead your heart away from God.

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Reflection

So I ask you:
What are your desires?
What is it that keeps your mind busy, your heart longing, your calendar full?

Do your desires draw you closer to God—or do they quietly compete for His place in your heart?

Let’s not be afraid to examine ourselves honestly.
Let’s bring our desires to the light—and let God purify them.

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Prayer

Lord,
You know my heart—every wish, every longing, every hidden desire.
Thank You for loving me enough to correct me gently and speak truth to my soul.

Help me to love the world the way You do—with a love that gives, not takes.
Guard me from desires that draw me away from You, even if they look good on the outside.
Teach me to want what You want, to pursue what brings You glory.
And when I get sidetracked (because I know I will), bring me back again.

Keep me close, Lord.
And let the deepest desire of my heart always be You.

Amen.

JOY