ESOCS Devotional 9 May 2026 – Love Not The World
MEMORY VERSE: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy Truth; Thy Word is Truth.” John 17:16-17 KJVB
TEXT: JOHN 17:1-19
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify[i] them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
READ OTHER ESOCS DEVOTIONAL HERE
The word ‘World’ can mean different things in different contexts. It can refer to the entire universe created by God. It can also refer to the whole body of men and women on earth; or, in a figurative sense, to all those who follow the evil ways that are not in line with God’s word. Little wonder Apostle John warns that believers should not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. Doing so, would mean hating God and His ways, (1 John 2:15). However, God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to save it (John 8:12, 9:5, 1:9).
As Christians, though we live in the world, we are not of this world. It follows therefore that we are forbidden to adopt the standards of the world. Instead, we put to death our love for the world or the realm of sin and Satan, (Galatians 6:14). We are under obligation to overcome the world in the power of Christ, and to proclaim the Good News to the world, even to the uttermost parts of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15). When Christ Jesus returns, God will judge the world through Him, and then, usher in the New World Order of perfect peace, impeccable love, and impeccable justice. And forever, to be with the Lord in glory everlasting (1 Thessalonians 1:17).
Reflections
- They that love the world shall perish with the world.
Prayer
- Lord Jesus, it is my utmost desire to be with you forever.
Further Reading: Isaiah 63:1-9; Lamentations 3:40-51; Hebrews 9:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 9 May 2026
