«Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them» (l John 2:15, NIV).
THE MESSAGE OF A SERMON preached in the nineteenth century has to be very powerful to still be the topic of conversation today. But that is exactly what happened with «The Exclusive Power of a New Affection,» preached by Scottish theologian Thomas Chalmers (1780—1847). What is it about?
Chalmers says that there are basically two ways of trying to overcome love for the pleasures of the world. One consists in telling oneself that those pleasures are ultimately not worthwhile; that everything there is in it is vanity; and to hope that in time the heart will resign to living away from those temptations. The other way is to allow another love—in this case, God’s love—to take possession of the heart, and thus displace the old affections. In other words, it means exchanging one love for another. As Chalmers himself says, «The best way of casting out an impure affection is to admit a pure one; and by the love of what is good, to expel the love of what is evil.
Which of the two methods is more likely to be successful?
They cannot be compared! Nobody resists the sinful attractions of the world simply because their mind thinks they are vanity; or because they set out to resist them. There is only one way—mark my words, only one—to uproot the old worldly affections from the heart. It is this: «Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new» (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In what sense do «all things become new?» In the sense that a new love has taken over the heart, has cast out old affections, and now that person begins to «hate» the things they formerly loved. The Desire of Ages says it very well: «Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.»—ch. 73, p. 668.
Are you fighting against «those old affections?» Do not go on fighting. Instead, allow Christ to enter your heart. Read about Him, think about Him, talk about Him, pray to Him. Let His love invade every corner of your life. As a result you will one day be able to say with the apostle: «It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me» (Galatians 2:20).
Dear Jesus, take possession of my heart. Invade every corner of my life. May nothing escape from the powerful influence of Your great love.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate
