What Are You Biting On?
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.
-1 John 2:15-17
There’s a quiet tension that shows up in all of us. We love God…But we also feel drawn to things we know don’t lead us closer to Him. Sounds like Paul in Romans 7 doesn't it. That’s exactly where 1 John speaks with clarity: “Do not love the world or the things in the world…”
John isn’t being dramatic, he’s being honest. There is a real pull on your heart, and it’s not random. It’s intentional. Because here’s the truth that I don’t think we talk about enough…Your story has a villain. Not metaphorically. Not like “bad habits” or “negative energy.”
I mean… a real enemy. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” That’s strong language.Not distract you. Not inconvenience you. Devour you.
The Way Temptation Actually Works
I once heard Pastor Joby Martin (Lead Pastor of The Church of Eleven twenty two) explain this in a way that has stuck with me, and it’s incredibly helpful for both students and parents.
Temptation isn’t usually a shove. It’s a lure.
Think about fishing for a moment. You don’t just throw anything into the water and hope for the best. You choose a lure based on what the fish are drawn to. You study the environment. You adjust your strategy. That’s what the enemy does. He watches. He learns. He tailors the lure. And if one doesn’t work? He reels it back in…switches it out… and casts again. Over and over.
The Three Lures We All Face
John breaks temptation into three categories to help us expose the strateges.
1. The Desires of the Flesh
This is the pull toward comfort, pleasure, and escape.
This looks like:
Let me ask you this…Where in your life are you choosing what feels good…Over what you know is right?
2. The Desires of the Eyes
This is the pull toward what looks good. It’s fueled by comparison and the constant feeling that something else would make life better.
This looks like:
Let me ask you this…Where are you constantly looking…and feeling like what you have isn’t enough?
3. The Pride of Life
This is the pull toward recognition, control, and status.
It shows up in thoughts like:
“I need to be seen.”
“I need to be right.”
“I need to be in control.”
This looks like:
Let me ask you…Where do you need to be seen…or in control…instead of trusting God?
Why This Matters More Than You Think
John doesn’t just name the lures, he tells us the outcome. “The world is passing away along with its desires…” Everything those lures promise… is temporary. Every bit of it. The satisfaction doesn’t last. The approval fades. The control slips. But then John gives us a better option: “Whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
The Call to Abide
The answer isn’t just “try harder.” It’s abide. To abide means to remain. To stay. To build your life in a place where your heart is anchored in God instead of drifting toward the world.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through intentional rhythms.
Build “God Time” Into Your Life
If we’re honest, most of us don’t drift toward God, we drift away from Him. That’s why “God time” matters. Not as a checkbox… but as a daily connection.
For students:
Start small and stay consistent. (Our Daily Student Reading Plan is perfect for this!)
Read Scripture with the goal of knowing God, not just finishing a plan
For parents:
Model this rhythm in your home. Let your kids see you opening the Bible, praying, and depending on God. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Surround Yourself with Mat Carriers
In Mark 2, a man who couldn’t get to Jesus on his own had friends who carried him...Literally.
They didn’t just encourage him. They got him to Jesus. We all need people like that. People who: Tell us the truth when we’re drifting, ask hard questions, and point us back to what actually matters. Students, this means choosing friends who help you follow Jesus, not just have fun. Parents, this means having relationships where you’re known, challenged, and supported. Because none of us are strong enough to fight every lure alone.
A Final Word:
Here’s the reality: The enemy is still casting. Right now as you read this blog. And if one lure doesn’t work, he’ll try another. But you don’t have to keep biting. You can recognize the pattern. You can resist the pull. You can choose something better.
So take a moment and ask:
-1 John 2:15-17
There’s a quiet tension that shows up in all of us. We love God…But we also feel drawn to things we know don’t lead us closer to Him. Sounds like Paul in Romans 7 doesn't it. That’s exactly where 1 John speaks with clarity: “Do not love the world or the things in the world…”
John isn’t being dramatic, he’s being honest. There is a real pull on your heart, and it’s not random. It’s intentional. Because here’s the truth that I don’t think we talk about enough…Your story has a villain. Not metaphorically. Not like “bad habits” or “negative energy.”
I mean… a real enemy. The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” That’s strong language.Not distract you. Not inconvenience you. Devour you.
The Way Temptation Actually Works
I once heard Pastor Joby Martin (Lead Pastor of The Church of Eleven twenty two) explain this in a way that has stuck with me, and it’s incredibly helpful for both students and parents.
Temptation isn’t usually a shove. It’s a lure.
Think about fishing for a moment. You don’t just throw anything into the water and hope for the best. You choose a lure based on what the fish are drawn to. You study the environment. You adjust your strategy. That’s what the enemy does. He watches. He learns. He tailors the lure. And if one doesn’t work? He reels it back in…switches it out… and casts again. Over and over.
The Three Lures We All Face
John breaks temptation into three categories to help us expose the strateges.
1. The Desires of the Flesh
This is the pull toward comfort, pleasure, and escape.
This looks like:
- Giving in to temptation when you’re alone
- Letting emotions control your decisions
- Chasing comfort instead of obedience
Let me ask you this…Where in your life are you choosing what feels good…Over what you know is right?
2. The Desires of the Eyes
This is the pull toward what looks good. It’s fueled by comparison and the constant feeling that something else would make life better.
This looks like:
- Comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel
- Wanting what others have relationships, popularity, attention
- Being discontent with what God has already given you
Let me ask you this…Where are you constantly looking…and feeling like what you have isn’t enough?
3. The Pride of Life
This is the pull toward recognition, control, and status.
It shows up in thoughts like:
“I need to be seen.”
“I need to be right.”
“I need to be in control.”
This looks like:
- Caring more about what people think than what God says
- Needing validation - likes, attention, approval
- Wanting control instead of surrender
Let me ask you…Where do you need to be seen…or in control…instead of trusting God?
Why This Matters More Than You Think
John doesn’t just name the lures, he tells us the outcome. “The world is passing away along with its desires…” Everything those lures promise… is temporary. Every bit of it. The satisfaction doesn’t last. The approval fades. The control slips. But then John gives us a better option: “Whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
The Call to Abide
The answer isn’t just “try harder.” It’s abide. To abide means to remain. To stay. To build your life in a place where your heart is anchored in God instead of drifting toward the world.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens through intentional rhythms.
Build “God Time” Into Your Life
If we’re honest, most of us don’t drift toward God, we drift away from Him. That’s why “God time” matters. Not as a checkbox… but as a daily connection.
For students:
Start small and stay consistent. (Our Daily Student Reading Plan is perfect for this!)
Read Scripture with the goal of knowing God, not just finishing a plan
For parents:
Model this rhythm in your home. Let your kids see you opening the Bible, praying, and depending on God. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Surround Yourself with Mat Carriers
In Mark 2, a man who couldn’t get to Jesus on his own had friends who carried him...Literally.
They didn’t just encourage him. They got him to Jesus. We all need people like that. People who: Tell us the truth when we’re drifting, ask hard questions, and point us back to what actually matters. Students, this means choosing friends who help you follow Jesus, not just have fun. Parents, this means having relationships where you’re known, challenged, and supported. Because none of us are strong enough to fight every lure alone.
A Final Word:
Here’s the reality: The enemy is still casting. Right now as you read this blog. And if one lure doesn’t work, he’ll try another. But you don’t have to keep biting. You can recognize the pattern. You can resist the pull. You can choose something better.
So take a moment and ask:
- What lure am I most drawn to right now?
- Where am I drifting instead of abiding?
- Who in my life is helping me stay anchored in truth?
Recent
Archive
2026
Categories
no categories
No Comments