Monday, December 26, 2011

II John, III John, and Jude

Yesterday was Christmas, and we had a great service at Church remembering the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a blessing it was!  Today is Monday, and a joy to realize we have one more week till the new year.  I'm excited and blessed.  As I end out the Bible again for the third time this year, I have had about four years with this blog.  I don't know if I will keep it up, or make it something different.  Any input would be appreciated. 
1) TRUTH & LOVE- II John is only 13 verses long, but it deals with Truth and Love.  Truth is mentioned five times and Love is mentioned three times.  We are to walk in the truth and to love one another. 
2) FULL REWARD- 2 John 1:8  "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."  The implication is that you can lose out on some of your rewards if you start backing off on those things that you once did for Christ.  I want a "full reward" and so I too must "look to yourselves (myself)" to see that I keep doing and keep believing what I've always believed and done.  All of us should not stop, but keep pressing on for Christ!
3) TRUTH- III John uses "truth" and "true" seven times!  It also points out a trouble maker in the church, Diotrephes, "who loveth to have the preeminence".  We are servants of Christ and each other and our goal should never be to lord over others, but to serve them.  Before John finished this short book of 14 verses, he does point out Demetrius who "hath good report of all men".  Thank God for godly men and women who are a blessing to their pastor and the cause of Christ.  Being a pastor is a hard calling, and what a blessing when godly men and women work together with their pastor for the cause of Christ!!  
4) KNOW THEIR NAMES- III John 14, says:  "... Greet the friends by name."  Paul does this even in his epistles.  I spoke a week ago how in II Timothy, he even listed his adversaries by name.  He named them!  Here he reminds us that since we are a part of a spiritual family at church we should get to know the family and call each other by name! 
5) HAVE COMPASSION
- I'll end with Jude, all of 25 verses.  One verse to focus on would be verse 22: "some have compassion, making a difference:"  It always works…. Compassion!!  Loving God and loving Others is what it's all about. 
Well, I need another cup of coffee, and I'll see you tomorrow!! Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler
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