Tag: love and truth
Truth and Love!
Scripture reading for December 21st: 2nd John
John wrote two shorter letters to those in the church that he loved. In this second letter, John writes to the elder, a chosen lady and her children. He writes to encourage them to walk in love and in the truth. John had written in his Gospel that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) As the truth, Jesus embodied all truth and everything that was righteous. Satan was a liar, with no truth in him! (John 8:44) John also wrote that God is love and that He so loved the world that He gave His Son Jesus Christ to bring salvation to whoever would believe on Him. (John 3:16)
There is a balance between love and truth that believers must be aware of. God wants all His children to walk in love and to love each other. This does not mean that our love just naively accepts anyone who believes or teaches what is contrary to the truth. Our love must be tempered by truth. False teachers were trying to seduce some of the members of the early church that John had labored to build.
“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. . . .If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” (2nd John 7-8,10-11)
The false teachers were gnostics, people who did not believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The were secretly introducing heresy into the church. Although God’s people are loving, we love in truth and cannot welcome those who are false teachers into our fellowship. This is a loving thing to do to protect the church and our own souls! John taught that when we welcome the false teacher or false apostle into our homes, we share in his or her wicked work and lose our own reward! That is serious teaching that should make us all cry out for discernment! The last days are marked by deception and false teaching! Check your own love and truth balance today as you re-read this short epistle!
Sunday Rest and Reflection:2nd John
Dear Friends,
Wow, only one more day of rest in this year! Where has it gone? What a journey through God’s word we have enjoyed! Only three more letters and we will finish this year’s trip and prepare for another! Our goal has been to find Jesus speaking to us in each book and letter of God’s word. I am amazed at how each time I sit down to read and write, the Holy Spirit opens up some aspect of the passage for me.
Because of a small slip-up on my part, we end up needing to read the last five Sunday’s of the year so that we can finish. Earlier, we were able to read six days and rest one. This week we have the short letter of 2nd John as our reading. Here are a few Scriptures that speak to me from this short letter. May they minister to your heart as you rest this day.
“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” 2nd John 3
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. “ 2nd John 4-6
‘Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” 2nd John 7
“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” 2nd John 12
Have a great day of rest–talk to the Lord face to face and be filled with His joy and peace! In His Love, Pastor John