Walking in Faith: Prioritizing God's Love

Life is full of demands that clamor for our attention, but true wisdom is found in learning to schedule our priorities, not just prioritize our schedules. The story of Bruce Springsteen, who learned to wake up early to make pancakes for his children, reminds us that the most important things in life can easily be missed if we are not intentional. In the same way, our spiritual lives require us to put first things first, to recognize what truly matters, and to live accordingly.

The passage from 1 John addresses all believers—children, fathers, and young men—not as separate stages, but as interconnected dynamics of the Christian life. Forgiveness, knowledge of God, and spiritual victory are not isolated experiences but are woven together in the life of every believer. Forgiveness is at the heart of our faith, unique to Christianity, where God’s grace is freely given through Christ’s sacrifice. This forgiveness is not just a new experience but the beginning of a relationship where we come to know God as our Father, the greatest relationship we can have.

Maturity in faith is marked by knowing God as the Creator and Sustainer, the Alpha and Omega. This knowledge brings both humility and confidence: humility because we are creatures dependent on God, and confidence because the One who began a good work in us will bring it to completion. In a world where leaders often disappoint, we can rest in the assurance that God, who is love, is sovereign over all.

Strength in the Christian life comes from the Word of God abiding in us. It is not enough to know Scripture intellectually; it must become part of our very being, shaping our desires, instincts, and actions. This abiding Word empowers us to resist evil and to live as lights in a dark world.

Yet, there is a serious warning: do not love the world or anything in it. The world, in this context, is not God’s good creation but the system organized in rebellion against Him. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are distortions of God’s good gifts, leading us away from Him. These desires are fleeting, but those who do the will of God will live forever. God’s first priority is us—He did not spare His own Son for our sake. In response, let us make God our first priority, giving Him the first place in every part of our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Forgiveness is the foundation of spiritual life, not just a one-time event but the ongoing basis of our relationship with God. Recognizing the depth of our own sin and the cost of Christ’s sacrifice leads to true spiritual birth and a profound sense of gratitude. This awareness transforms our understanding of God as our loving Father, not a distant deity but the One who welcomes us as His children. [09:40]
• 2. Spiritual maturity is marked by knowing God as both Creator and Sustainer—the Alpha and Omega. This knowledge humbles us, reminding us of our dependence, but also gives us confidence that God will complete what He has begun in us. In a world of uncertainty and flawed leaders, we find security in God’s unchanging goodness and sovereign love. [15:21]
• 3. True spiritual strength comes from the Word of God abiding deeply within us, not just as information but as the very source of our instincts and desires. When Scripture becomes our “bloodstream,” it empowers us to resist evil, shapes our character, and connects us intimately to Christ. This is more than memorization; it is a transformation that produces lasting spiritual resilience and discernment. [20:28]
• 4. The love of the world is fundamentally incompatible with the love of God. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are not merely temptations but distortions of God’s good gifts, leading us to seek satisfaction apart from Him. Attempting to serve both God and the world is not just difficult—it is impossible, and we must be vigilant to guard our hearts against divided loyalties. [24:19]
• 5. Investing in the world’s passing desires is ultimately futile, while investing in God’s will yields eternal dividends. Everything we give to God—our time, talents, and treasures—becomes part of His eternal purpose and blessing. God’s first priority is us, demonstrated in Christ’s sacrifice; in response, our first priority must be to love and serve Him above all else, making Him the center of our lives. [35:54]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:50] - Bruce Springsteen’s Wake-Up Call
• [03:24] - Reading and Reflecting on 1 John
• [04:43] - The Interwoven Dynamics of Christian Life
• [07:02] - The Uniqueness of Christian Forgiveness
• [08:55] - Spiritual Birth and Knowing the Father
• [11:05] - The Greatness of Our Heavenly Father
• [13:19] - Maturity: Knowing God from the Beginning
• [15:21] - God as Creator, Sustainer, and Consummator
• [18:13] - Strength: The Word of God Abiding in Us
• [21:25] - John’s Serious Warning: Do Not Love the World
• [23:29] - The Three Distortions: Flesh, Eyes, and Pride
• [28:17] - Recovering the Beauty of God
• [33:47] - The Folly of Investing in the World
• [35:54] - God’s First Priority and Our Response
• [36:39] - Ministry Time and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

1 John 2:12-17 (ESV) — 12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.
13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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.
17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Observation Questions

1. According to 1 John 2:12-14, what three groups does John address, and what does he say is true about each of them?
2. What does John mean by “the word of God abides in you” when speaking to the young men? ([19:31])
3. In verses 15-17, what are the three things John warns us not to love, and how does he describe them? ([24:36])
4. What does John say is the result of doing the will of God, compared to loving the world? ([34:53])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says forgiveness is not just a one-time event but the ongoing basis of our relationship with God. How does this understanding of forgiveness shape the way a believer relates to God as Father? ([09:40])
2. John describes knowing God as “him who is from the beginning.” What does it mean for spiritual maturity to be rooted in knowing God as Creator, Sustainer, and Consummator? ([15:21])
3. The sermon talks about the Word of God becoming our “bloodstream.” What does it look like for Scripture to shape our instincts and desires, not just our knowledge? ([20:28])
4. Why does John say that loving the world and loving God are mutually exclusive? What are some practical ways this conflict shows up in daily life? ([23:29])

Application Questions

1. The story of Bruce Springsteen was used to illustrate the importance of intentionally making time for what matters most. Are there “pancake moments” in your life—important things or relationships you are at risk of missing because of busyness or misplaced priorities? What is one step you can take this week to “schedule your priorities” rather than just prioritize your schedule? ([01:50])
2. The sermon asks if we have a concrete recognition of our own sinfulness and the cost of Christ’s sacrifice. When was the last time you reflected on your personal need for forgiveness? How does this awareness affect your gratitude and relationship with God? ([09:40])
3. John says spiritual strength comes from the Word of God abiding in us. What is one practical way you can let Scripture “abide” in you this week—beyond just reading or memorizing it? ([20:28])
4. The “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life” are described as distortions of God’s good gifts. Which of these do you find most challenging in your own life? What is one specific way you can guard your heart against it this week? ([24:36])
5. The sermon says that investing in the world’s passing desires is ultimately futile, but investing in God’s will yields eternal dividends. What is one area of your time, talent, or treasure that you feel God is prompting you to invest more intentionally for His purposes? ([35:25])
6. God’s first priority is us—He did not spare His own Son for our sake. In response, what would it look like for you to make God your first priority in a specific area of your life (work, family, finances, etc.)? ([35:54])
7. The sermon warns that trying to serve both God and the world is not just difficult, but impossible. Are there any “divided loyalties” in your life right now? What would it look like to surrender those to God? ([24:19])