1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Nothing breeds contempt for God more than success. Only in this passage are the words “pride of life” put together. Why is that?

We reach out to the hurting, those who need help, those that feel the pain of a life that is not successful. We do so because we have been there where they are and we found a way out of our despair. Those with “pride of life” look to nothing but their own success, their own satisfaction, their own desires.

When we were lost sinners those successful people turned a blind eye to us because we had nothing they wanted, they were users, not givers. This is why our witness is strongest with those that suffered as we suffered. Our experiences are not uncommon but most of us do not live our lives pointing out what we were that is not evident in the life we live now. The life we live now has to speak for itself.

For example, I post these devotionals on facebook, X and hiscup.net and I post nothing there but these articles. In facebook I belong to different groups, family, high school mates, and special interest groups. I am not different in those groups, I just do not flood the group with the gospel. Anyone in those other groups are free to check my profile and see what I post. Some follow, some do not.

I’ve heard that a zealot cannot change his mind and will not change the subject. That really wears on people and they stop listening. I have other interests and opinions but I only share those where it is appropriate. I blend in without changing who I am.

My example from Jesus is in how He could be with sinners without changing. He did not call them out for their sins and shielded them from the Pharisees of that time. A shield does not mean a behavior is acceptable, only that He was willing to keep them from the pain inflicted by others.

John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

In order to seek approval from God, one must first see there is a God and secondly that He loves them. Jesus showed them He is love and that was attractive.

Show the love and then they will want to know how we got there.

The path of the righteous walks with Jesus.