2 John

Watch Out!! {2 John}

9:00 AM

Today's Scripture Passage: 2 John

I have to admit, often when writing lately I've been failing to first discover God's message to me, and focusing more on pulling out a message for you, but this one verse jumped off the page this week and I knew immediately this message was for me! And perhaps, for you too! This book may be small, but it still packs a punch!

2 John 8
  The Book of 2 John is written to "the chosen lady and her children." This could have been a woman of high standing in the church, or it could have been a code which refers to the local church and its congregation, for in those days, when Christians were being severely persecuted, such codes were often used. 

In any case, John's main concern is that true believers be aware that there are false teachers and teachings out there and we should have nothing to do with them. Notice,
"Be on guard, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who runs on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting." (2 John 8-10)
I also think it's important to note that before John gives us his warning, he gives us a definition of love,
 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it." (2 John 5-6)
I believe John reminds us of what Jesus had told them, and John had previously recorded for us in John 14:14-16 so that in whatever we do, it would always be motivated by our love for God and our desire to please Him. 

 It was the term, "runs on ahead" that caused me to think of another passage in Isaiah 58:13-14a that I'd like to share before I get to the message God has given to me. 
 “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; 
Isaiah speaks of turning our foot away from seeking our own "pleasure", and John speaks of running ahead of God. In both passages I believe they are cautioning us to follow after God and not run ahead of Him believing we have the wisdom and answers already, or veer off God's path choosing another plan. And in each passage it's important to note that following after God and His plan should be motivated by love.  

 False teaching can be as subtle as failing to measure up our beliefs to God's Word, which was exactly what I was doing!! And it was so subtle I didn't realize it until verse eight leaped off the page and hit me squarely between the eyes!! 

 You see girls, my guy is close to retiring, and we are SO EXCITED about this next chapter in our lives, for we will finally be able to choose how we want to spend all the years of our retirement!! The possibilities are limitless; from volunteering in ministries (who can always use help) to daily sunbathing on a tropical beach somewhere. One extreme offers our service to God and His people and the other offers total rest and doing all the things we enjoy most! 

 I know what you're think... the choice seems pretty simple, doesn't it? BUT not when the world keeps telling us we "deserve a break today" because we're "worth it". I've been allowing my thoughts to wander to all the wonderful places to visit and things to do, and never bothered to include The Lord in all these thoughts. Never once did I ask Him what He would like us to do in this next chapter. That is until I read verse 8 and from there God took me back to Isaiah...

 I wanted to confess all of this to you to prove John's point here-- we need to constantly be on guard and constantly in His Word, so that we don't loose what we've worked so hard for. Not our salvation- never that, but the reward that is waiting for us in heaven. The reward that won't even be able to compare to the tropical beaches here!

 Blessings, 

 sue

1 John 2;24

Walking in Truth and Watchfulness (2 John 1:13)

9:00 PM





John addressed this letter to a particular congregation and he expressed how much he rejoiced to find God's people walking in truth, which means they also abide in God. The same idea was expressed in 1 John 2:24 “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” 

 “When we receive Jesus as our Savior, His truth lives in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is described in many ways including a “Spirit of help”, (John 14:16), and a “Spirit of truth”. (John 16:13) The Spirit helps us to walk in God’s truth and to obey His commands. Especially God’s greatest commandments; to love Him and to love others as we love ourselves.” If you’d like to learn more about Walking in His Truth click here.

John also warns the church to stand firm against false teachers:

 “Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers].” (8)
Many people today are so “open minded” and they think that the Truth can change from age to age and from generation to generation. I have sadly seen family and friends wander away from the truth because they are being attracted to deceptive “modern” doctrines. I have also seen many of my fellow Christians running to these preachers which combine the truths of the Gospel with “Life Coaching” -diluting the Gospel- and they find this so amusing! 
Peter encourages to be sober, alert and cautious:

8 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], (1 Peter 5:8-9a)

“The more deceivers and deceits abound, the more watchful the disciples must be. Sad it is, that splendid attainments in the school of Christ, should ever be lost. The way to gain the full reward is, to abide true to Christ, and constant in religion to the end. Firm cleaving to Christian truth unites us to Christ, and thereby to the Father also; for they are one”. M. Henry

Paul also gave this warning: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we [originally] preached to you, let him be condemned to destruction! 9 As we have said before, so I now say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from that which you received [from us], let him be condemned to destruction!” (Galatians1:8-9)
The truth is not always well received by some people, because it can confront them and convict them:
“10 Am I now [a]trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

This conviction should bring us to repentance and as James exhorts us:

 “So get rid of all uncleanness and [a]all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.” (1:21)

When we walk in truth this shows we are walking with the Lord. So if we abide in the truth, we will be able to stand up for our Lord.

As I close, I would like to invite you to pray with me:

“Lord God, remind me today (and every day) that I have an enemy who wants to steal my affection from you by deceiving me. Make me watchful. Give me a diligent heart so that I might enjoy the great reward of knowing and serving you. (iWorship Bible)

Blessings,

Mari

2 John

Walking in His Truth {2 John}

12:00 AM


Walking in His Truth {2 John}  



Monday, Nov. 27
In this second epistle by John, he writes to, “the chosen lady and her children”. Some argue that this woman was not an actual person, but rather the church as a whole and her members. But whether John’s letter was written for one or for all, it is a wonderful reminder of the importance of loving one another, discernment in regards to false teachers, and walking in the truth.

John begins by expressing his love, and the love of all fellow believers in God’s truth. “The Elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever.” (vs. 1-2) In an undependable world, the one thing we can always depend on is God and His promises. For His truth is everlasting, and His Word eternal. It will never forsake us, never abandon us, and as told in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 

In this chapter the truth John speaks of is Christ Jesus. The truth that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and Redeemer of the world. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, His truth lives in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is described in many ways including a “Spirit of help”, (John 14:16), and a “Spirit of truth”. (John 16:13) The Spirit helps us to walk in God’s truth and to obey His commands. Especially God’s greatest commandments; to love Him and to love others as we love ourselves. 


"And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” (vs. 6) Jesus says in John 14:23, “If anyone loves Me, He will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Real love walks in obedience. Even when it’s hard or inconvenient. And by loving and obeying God’s commands, our intimacy with Him deepens, He is able to work through us, and our faith is strengthened.

John goes on to tell us that God’s truth is our best defense against false teachers. In John’s time “deceivers” where spreading false doctrine, and refusing to acknowledge that Jesus came as God in the flesh, rejecting the truth of the Bible. Such “deceivers” are still prevalent today. We are warned that when these wolves come knocking on our door we are to turn them away. “do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in His evil deeds.” (v. 10-11) I love the saying, “We are defined by what we reject much as by what we accept.” Knowing God’s Word gives us the discernment we need to say yes to what we should, and to reject what should be rejected. 

God wants nothing more than to bless us beyond our wildest imagination. He delights in joyful obedience, and wants each of us to receive our “full reward”.  His love is unconditional, and as His children with His love living inside of us we should practice the same. Obeying His commandments and walking in His truth keeps our feet on a straight path to success. “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, .....that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:3)