Thessalonians

Devotional

Jude

Letters of John

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and our hands have handled, of the word of life.” (1:1)

It is thought that the apostle John wrote his letters and his gospel toward the end of his life. He had certainly seen plenty in his life from his young days of following the Lord, to seeing the church grow (as recorded in the book of Acts), to his imprisonment on the isle of Patmos. He was the only apostle to live to old age, the others having been martyred. Now, in his older years, he writes as a ‘father’ to his ‘little children’, the church, from a heart of wonderful, caring love. He reminds them of matters of eternal significance, such as fellowship, forgiveness of sins, the life of Christ in us, as well as one of his most enduring themes, that is, the theme of love. He does not write any of this from a mere academic, or theoretical point of view. He writes from a position of reality and personal experience. In 1:1 he talks of things which he has seen, heard and handled. These are not fleeting experiences because he also uses the word to ‘look upon’, which means to steadily gaze at and consider until the significance of what is being looked at is understood and fully realised. In this context, the things that John speaks of are not just the privileges of one who had personally walked with the Lord Jesus while He was on earth, but are the reality of things which are available to every true believer in Christ. This is eternal life made real and all who truly believe can know the reality of it.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that your life is not limited just to those who knew you on earth, but can be known by all who love and follow you now.”

“Truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” (1:3)

We all love human fellowship, seeing each other and being together. In these days of the pandemic and lockdown, our meeting up with each other has been, for very good reasons, severely limited. However, John reminds us that our fellowship with one another is only really based upon the fact, that first, our fellowship is with the Father and the Son. Unless we have that spiritual fellowship with the Father and the Son, our fellowship with one another has no eternal significance. God wants fellowship with us, so we can have true fellowship with one another. God wanted that fellowship from the beginning. He wanted it with Adam. He had it for a short time, but then it was broken and became lost. In Christ, it can be restored again. Through the death of God’s Son, the shedding of His blood, the forgiveness of sins and the uniting of our hearts with God’s by the power of His Holy Spirit, true fellowship can be known once more. In these days of changing circumstances, it is good and vital to know that if we are joined to Jesus Christ, we have unchanging, unbroken fellowship with Him forever.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that whatever happens in these days, I can always know real, valuable fellowship with You.”

“That your joy may be full.” (1:4)

Having written of having fellowship with the Father and the Son, John then says that one of the most wonderful results of this is joy. This is not a passing joy which we may have seeing a film, watching a sport, listening to music, or looking at a beautiful view. These, though pleasant, are only temporary. The joy that John speaks of is fullness of joy, a joy with no comparison. When Jesus spoke about being in union with Him, He said those things that His joy should remain in us and that it should be full (John 15:11). Christian work and meetings can sometimes become routine and lose their ‘sparkle.’ If this has become so, we need to return to Christ and renew our fellowship with Him. It is only as we are with and in Him, and He in us, that true joy flows in our beings. To really know His Presence is inexpressible and leads to a joy that is way beyond the furthest reaches of our imaginations. Do we really know Him like this? Have we seen, heard and handled His life in our experiences and gatherings together? If so, then to be with Him like that is the greatest of all joys and it is a joy that cannot be taken from us.

PRAYER :- “Lord, I do not seek joy as an end in itself, but I thank you that when I truly know you, then that brings a joy that I cannot describe.”

“God is light and in Him, there is no darkness at all.” (1:5)

God is not just a source of light, He is light. Whichever He could be turned, there would be no variation, nor shadow (James 1:18). He is all light, through and through. It is not just the light of a brilliant shining, it is the light of purity and righteousness. Men avoid this light. Why? Because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). They prefer darkness where their actions cannot be exposed. But, in the light, nothing can be hidden. All is open and transparent. This is the basis for fellowship. To hide away, or pretend, is to be in darkness. God is not fooled as He sees everything because He is light. The only one we would deceive is ourselves. God wants fellowship; in order to have light, we must step into the light and leave all darkness behind. We may be afraid, or ashamed at what may be revealed. But, in the light there is also cleansing, so any darkness would be removed altogether. God constantly reached out to Israel of old inviting them to come and walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5). They refused. The same invitation is made to us. Let us come into the light, having all darkness washed away so that we may fully enjoy fellowship with the Father and the Son and also with one another.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you are light. Help me not to be afraid so I may always live in your light.”

“The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.” (1:7)

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1:9)

As we walk and live in the light, there is a promise, which God will faithfully keep and never break. It is, that in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. These are not just sins that we are conscious of. They are all sins, new and old, known (to us) and unknown. They are sins which God knows and also sins of which the devil knows and accuses us. There is provision in the blood of Christ for all of them; every last one! We should not attempt to deceive ourselves, or hide away in some shadow, but be honest and confess all to God. If we have injured another, we may need to confess before them, but primarily our confession is to God. Oh, how He loves such confession. He not only forgives, but washes away every stain, every effect and every defilement of the awfulness of sin. It is like being made new; not that we should repeatedly sin, but to live in the light and fellowship of Christ, keeping us now and every moment clean. Then, the blood of Christ will wash us brighter and brighter so that we may live purer lives and be in ever closer fellowship with Him.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you for the amazing provision of the blood of Christ which washes me from sin and keeps me clean in your sight.”

“We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (2:1)

Here is a most wonderful word. This word advocate means one who pleads our cause. It is the very opposite of adversary, that is, of one who accuses. The picture conjured up is one of a court scene where one stands accused of foolishly and perhaps unwillingly committing a crime. There may be extenuating circumstances but he is guilty and cannot escape the inevitable punishment. The adversary demands justice and all his acquaintance cry out for him to be punished. Then, there is silence as another steps into the scene. He knows the person is guilty but admirably pleads his case. Then, as he reaches the climax, he offers to take the punishment instead. The accuser is stunned for a moment, but then with his supporters, they cry out, “Unfair.” “Silence”, orders the judge. “The advocate will bear the punishment; the guilty accused is now free.” The drama is intense but wonderfully demonstrates the work, and indeed ongoing work, of Christ Jesus, our Advocate. The word in Greek is ‘paraclesis’, meaning to come alongside and comfort. What an incredible comfort to know that all our past sins have been borne by Christ Jesus and that he has taken our punishment. And, should we sin again, we still have an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus, the righteous.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you for your amazing advocacy on my behalf. What can I do but praise and bless you.”

“Whosoever keeps His word, truly in him, the love of God is perfected.” (2:5)

The apostle John is very keen that the Christians he is writing to should remain in the light and be free from all the destructive power of sin. One of the ways of doing this is by obeying God’s commands. Whoever keeps His word, the love of God will be perfected in him. He will walk and live as Christ lived. This love will be demonstrated not only toward God, who cannot be seen, but also toward his fellow believer, who can be seen (1 John 4:20). This is one of the strongest themes in the whole letter and is emphasised again and again. If we say we love God and walk in the light, then we will love our brothers and sisters in Christ. We cannot hate them. To do so, is totally incompatible with the light and life of Jesus Christ. The love of the world is fickle and changeable. The love of Christ is unchanging, pure and totally impartial. This is the love of God which the Father has freely given to us and poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It distinguishes us as His children and makes us so different from the world (3:1). This is the love which God wants us to know. This is the love which is to guide every action and thought, not only to God, but also to others.

PRAYER :- “Lord, Your love is unlike any other; help me to know it more and more in my life.”

“I write to you little children … young man … fathers.” (2:12-14).

The love of God is not static, but something we grow and develop in. In his writing, John mentions three stages of growth in Christian life :- little children, fathers and young men. Each has its own characteristics. One is not better than the other, but each represents different stages in Christian maturity. Little children know the forgiveness of sins and the love of the father. This is essential and foundational. Young men are strong and have learnt to overcome. This is not due to their own strength but the strength of the indwelling word of God imparted to them. How vital it is for young men as they grow up to know their Bible well. Fathers are mature, secure and stable. Such security and stability provides safety for others to shelter under. Blessed is the church that has all these three stages of godly life amply demonstrated within it. We are not meant to remain at one stage but be inspired to mature into the next. In this, God can use us in a multitude of ways to make His kingdom increase and to help all of His children to know more of the Father who gives us His life to grow in.

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to grow in to all the fullness and maturity of Your life within me.”

“Love not the world.” (2:15)

The world in which we live is another constant theme of John’s. He mentions it many times (2:2,15-17; 3:1,13,17; 4:1,3,4-5,9,14,17; 5:4,5,19). It describes not so much the physical attributes, such as mountains, lakes, rivers, coastline, etc., but more to the order, arrangement and system under which it operates. In this way, its function is under a prince, Satan (see John 14:30). The world, sometimes knowingly, but more often unknowingly, is under his direction and orchestration. Worldly values are essentially his values. They are characterised by greed, selfishness and the desire to dominate. In Satan’s world, love, kindness, humility and gentleness are despised; these are aspects of God’s kingdom and it should be no surprise that when we display them, the world will hate us (3:13). We are not to be conformed to these values of the world (Romans 12:2). They were introduced in the beginning to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. They have multiplied and become ever more powerful as men have increased upon the earth. The Lord Jesus systematically undid all that Satan introduced (the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life). Because Jesus Christ overcame all the values of the world, we also are to overcome the world. This is why we are not to love what the world loves.

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to see that this world system is diametrically opposed to the values of Your kingdom, so that I may live more in line with your will and not mine, nor the world’s.”

“They went out that they may be manifest that they were not all of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One and know all things.” (2:19,20).

The false values of the world are constantly trying to encroach upon and creep into God’s church. We are to be on guard. John says that those who espouse the values of the world are of antichrist and have no part in the kingdom of God. They may come alongside the church for a while seeking to enter and corrupt, but in the end, they will leave. How are we to discern such encroachments and know such people? John says that we have a witness within us, an anointing which we have received from God. This ‘inner knowing’ helps us to discern what is of God and what is not. It is not a sign of infallibility, but as long as we remain in fellowship with God, it is a guide. Therefore, John says in verse 24, that we should remain in that which we have heard from the beginning and not be seduced from the fundamental truths of the gospel. In this way we shall not be ashamed by being led astray into false things.

PRAYER :- “Lord help us to be delivered from the many deceivers and antichrists that are in the world.”

“Everyone who does righteousness is born of Him.” (2:29)

Another of John’s recurrent themes is new birth. He referred to Jesus’ teaching on it to Nicodemus in John 3:1-8. There, Jesus taught how indisputable it is to be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of God. In his letter, John refers to the qualities that should exist in the life of someone who has been born again. Once more, this is to help us to know truth from falsehood and reality from unreality. There are six characteristics that John refers to and the first is in 2:29. He simply says that one who is born of God does righteousness. His normal ‘default’ pattern is righteousness. He hates unrighteousness and will not tolerate it. All forms of unrighteousness (and obvious ones include lying, theft, drunkenness, sexual immorality, to name but a few) he will do all in his power to avoid. One who persists in unrighteousness cannot be born again, whatever he may claim. By stating this truth (and other truths), John intends that all sense of vagueness and ambiguity should not be present among God’s people.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that the new birth of your life in me helps me to love and do righteousness.”

“Whoever is born of God does not commit sin.” (3:9).

This is the second of John’s characteristics of a person who is born again. Once again, the truth is profoundly simple, that is, that one who is born again cannot commit sin. Sadly, many believers have tied themselves in knots over this verse. They think that because they have knowingly sinned then this verse proves that they cannot be born again. As a result, often, they sink into despair. The verse does not say that if you sin, you cannot be born again; it is not teaching sinless perfection. Previously, John had clearly stated that “If we sin, we have an advocate …” (2:1), allowing for the possibility of sin. This is not to excuse sin. Sin is inexcusable. The verse teaches that if, or since, we are born again, we do not have to sin. Sin does not need to be automatic. The power and dominion of sin has been broken at the cross of Jesus Christ (read carefully Romans chapter 6). That victory over sin and the need not to automatically commit sin is made available to me when His holy life is gloriously imparted when I am born again and become a new creature in Christ. I am born from above, from another kingdom where righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit reigns and where sin does not reign. By being of that kingdom and living in the reality and power of it, I do not now need to sin. Glory to His name!

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you for new birth. May I increasingly know the power and reality of it in my life.”

“Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” (5:1)

This is the third characteristic that John mentions of one who is born again. They believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed one of God. This is not a mental assent, or an agreement with a set of values, or teachings. To believe is to be wholly and utterly persuaded. It is a total commitment, body, soul, spirit and mind to all the truths of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Though there may be times when such belief is under attack by all the despising and disputing of the world, the one who believes cannot doubt, neither can they be shaken. It is a sure and solid foundation in our lives. Though Satan may tempt us to despair, this foundation is something, if we are born of God, that we will stand firm upon for all eternity. This powerful conviction forms a bedrock in our lives when we are born again.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that what we believe about You, is real, powerful and eternally true.”

“Whoever is born of God overcomes the world …(5:4) “and keeps himself so that the evil one does not touch him.” (5:18)

These are the fourth and fifth characteristics of those who are born again. The world and all its temptations can so easily overwhelm us. When we are born again, there is an innate victory which is imparted to us. We do not despair and fall defeated before the devil’s lies and accusations. Sometimes, like Peter upon the water (Matthew 14:30), fear takes hold and we are conscious of beginning to sink. A cry to the Lord in times of danger will save us. The new life in Christ and faith in Him helps us to overcome. Neither are we playthings of the wicked one, nor subject to the constant change of circumstances. Men may curse, words may be thrown and events may threaten, but none of it seems to ‘stick’ to those who are truly born again and walk in the light of His word. May the Lord keep us pure and so prove the truth of these precious promises.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that nothing the devil does can destroy me; help me to keep my eyes upon You.”

“Everyone who loves is born of God.” (4:7)

This is perhaps the greatest sign that one is born again. When we are born again, the nature of Christ’s love is freely given to us, poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). We can say (in all reverence) that Christ oozed love. When taunted, He did not respond in kind. When struck, He did not retaliate. Instead, pure love poured out from Him. There is no fear in love. His love keeps us utterly secure. This is not theoretical love. In the verse quoted, the verbal form of the word is used. It is a love that translates into actions. This love goes the second mile, triumphs over hatred, always seeks the highest and the best, never exalts itself, is never jealous and keeps one in perfect peace and purity. This love of Christ is not a reservoir that has a limit and may run dry. It is an ever-flowing, living thing, so that those who abide in Him are always drinking of it and expressing it to others. To be in His love and in the presence of one who loves with the love of God is the safest, securest, most wonderful thing ever. Time passes without notice. It wins the hardest of hearts, cleanses the vilest of sins and overcomes the most difficult of situations. Blessed is the man and the church where this love is so abundantly evident. It is the sacred treasure of God’s heart and worth having above all else.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that Your indescribably wonderful love has come to live within my poor heart.”

“And this is how we know that He lives in us; it is by the Spirit which He has given to us.” (3:24)

In their lack of knowledge and wisdom, men seek for a proof that they have the Holy Spirit and belong to God. Is this proof speaking in tongues, performing a miracle, praying a majestic prayer, or making some great declaration? Firstly, the Holy Spirit is not a ‘thing’ we own; He is the third person of the Godhead and has been graciously given as a most wonderful and precious gift. So, how can we know that we have the Spirit of God living within us? According to John, we know we have the Spirit, by the Spirit. In other words, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16). The Holy Spirit Himself gives us an inner knowing that He is in us and that we belong to Him as His children, knowing God as Father (Galatians 4:6). It is as when Elisabeth met Mary (who was pregnant with Christ) and something within her (the unborn John the Baptist in her case) leapt at the presence of Christ. Other signs can be manufactured, or copied, but this inner knowing which surpasses all other ‘knowings’ is the greatest proof we have that we are His and He is mine. My heart, therefore, rejoices at the sound of Your Name.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you for your Holy Spirit who leaves us in no doubt that we belong to You.”

“Every Spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” (4:2)

This is not a statement to be learnt parrot-fashion and repeated whenever convenient. Though many say that they believe in God, this is not enough to conclude that they are ‘of God’, or belong to Him. Others may say that they admire His teaching, or have attended church, or have prayed now and again. The ‘proof of the pudding’, or the ‘plumbline test’ centres around the person of Jesus Christ. When we believe and confess that everything that was in God (His eternity, omnipotence, majesty, mercy and grace) has all come together to live within a real flesh and blood human being, then the spirit saying that is of God. As said, this is not just a creed to be repeated, but when we realise that all the attributes of the Godhead have come to live in Him bodily (Colossians 2:9), then those same attributes can also exist in us. This is so that we should walk and live even as He walked and lived (2:6); and as He was in the world, so we can be the same also (4:17). This is the truth. Antichrist spirits deny it. Let us not only know and confess the truth, but also, by His grace, experience it day by day.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you live in a human body and that now, by Your Holy Spirit, you can also live within our bodies.”

“Greater is He that is in you that he that is within the world.” (4:4)

This is an enormous comfort to every true believer, no matter how insignificant they think themselves to be. It is not that they themselves are greater, but that there resides Someone within them who is the Greater One. It is incredible to think that whatever powers that there are in the world, over the world and even ruling the world, that all their combined forces are no match for Christ Jesus. He is the only One who has all authority. All nature, whether on earth, or in space is subject to Him. Ultimately, to Him, all things, even supernatural things, must bow their knees and confess Him as Lord to the glory of God, the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). To make it more personal, whatever onslaughts you may face, whatever legacy, or upbringing you have had and whatever sins (yours, or someone else’s) that will have helped shape your personality, Jesus Christ within you is greater than them all. As Elisha said to his servant, “Fear not, there are more with us than there are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16). The servant just needed eyes to see it. Do not let he who is in the world dictate fear into your life. We are not promoting presumption but we are to realise afresh that the Lord of all creation lives within us and has cast down every enemy of your soul.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you for the amazing victory that you have accomplished for us in Christ Jesus.”

“This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us.” (4:10)

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (4:19)

Within the space of fifteen verses, the word ‘love’ (either by noun, or by verb) is mentioned no fewer than twenty-seven times. It is mentioned at least twelve other times in the letter. Love was uppermost in John’s thinking. The Greek word used is ‘Agape’, a word rarely found outside the Bible. Therefore, its use all the more specifically describes the nature and actions of God. It is not easy to describe love, but more easily to describe its results. Love is not an emotional impulse. Feelings are involved but they are the effect, not the cause. This love did not begin with us. It originated with God and is entirely selfless. Because love is not selfish, God did not keep it to Himself; He wanted to share it. And, because He wanted to share it, He acted, in that, while we were still enemies of God, He sent His own Son into the world to live and then to die, for us and for our sins. This is love. God cannot act otherwise. God is love. He cannot be anything else. He is all love, through and through. Though you may search a million years for another agenda, you will not find it. The only appropriate response is to break down and love Him, because He first loved us. This is the love He wants you and I to fully know.

PRAYER :- “Lord, words are inadequate, but thank you, that in spite of ourselves, you love us, because You are love.”

“His commands are not grievous/burdensome.” (5:3)

Knowing that God is all, selfless love, He will not place upon us some duty, which He knows will be impossible for us to do. Those would be the actions of a totally unreasonable tyrant and God is not tyrannical. The devil would have us believe that the commands of God are unfair and cannot, or even should not, be obeyed. How wrong this is. Not only are His commands not burdensome, but to obey them is liberating. There is nothing better for us, as human beings, than to obey God’s commands. When God spoke to the children of Israel, through Moses, in the book of Deuteronomy, He essentially said, to obey His word is life; to disobey is death (Deuteronomy 30:19,20). Do not avoid obedience. Our Father in heaven knows our frailties and will never place a burden upon us which will crush us. Therefore, rejoice and ask for a heart that delights to do the will of God and will pray, “Not my will, but Yours, be done.”

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to obey because your commands are life to my soul.”

“He who has the Son has life.” (5:12)

God does not want us to be in a ‘dead religion.’ He wants us to be alive with the living, powerful, resurrection life of Jesus Christ. The night before Jesus was crucified He prayed His own ‘high-priestly’ prayer in John chapter 17. In that prayer, Jesus defines eternal life, which is to know God and He whom God has sent (that is, Christ Jesus – John 17:3). Eternal life is not an endless cycle of days. Who would want to live forever in the world as it now is. It is not quantity. Instead, it is quality. The life that Jesus prayed about and John wrote of is that life which God intends for every man and woman that has ever set foot upon this planet. It is a life of full and free fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a life of love, joy and peace. It is a life without sin, where all sorrow, pain, death and tears are wiped away … forever! This is the life that Adam enjoyed all too briefly in the garden of Eden with all its tranquillity before Satan spoiled it. But, it is more than that. Because, once fallen, but now redeemed, this life is incomparable to anything known before. This is the life that Jesus gives and it is a life more abundant than anything else (John 10:10). But, this life is only possible through the Son. He who has the Son has life, but he who does not have the Son does not have life. Make sure you have the Son, Jesus Christ, so that you may have His life.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you for this amazing life you so freely have and now want me to know in all its fullness.”

“If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired from Him.” (5:14,15)

Prayer is a wonderful thing. To have confidence that our prayers will be answered is even better. That confidence comes from two things. The first is that we must ask according to His will and not ours. We must know that the thing we are asking for is what He wants and not according to our own desires. The second thing is to have that assurance that we have been heard. How can we know that? It is simply by being in absolute close fellowship with Him. When we have that relationship, we know that when we speak, He will hear us. Likewise, in that same relationship, when He speaks, we listen. When we listen like that, we will know what is His will regarding a matter. Too often, we speak, we ask, we talk, but we don’t really listen. As we listen to Him, we shall know that He is listening to us. Then, we shall pray in that sweet unity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and only pray for things which are in the compass of His will. And, because we know that they are His will, when we ask, He hears and graciously grants the request.

PRAYER :- “Lord, teach me more about having intimacy with you when I pray.”

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (5:21)

This is a most unusual way to finish a letter. There is no greeting, no commending them to the grace of God (as often seen in the Apostle Paul’s letters), but just a simple caution. Why does John say this to his ‘little children.’? When John speaks of idols in this verse, I do not think he is speaking about images of wood, metal, or stone. There are also the materialistic idols of money, property, career, ambition and the like. It can mean all of these, but in this context, I believe he is talking about the idols that Christians can make. They can idolise a ministry, or even a minister, a name; they can exalt him and refuse to listen to anyone else. They can idolise a church, falling in love with the architecture, the location, or even the history of the place. They can idolise a ‘work’, holding onto the past and not letting go. We don’t want any past movements to just become monuments. Christians can even idolise the ‘truth’, proudly thinking they have it and that no-one else does. John warns against all these traps, of exalting anything above the Person of Jesus Christ and which can so easily replace the simplicity of the life of Christ. We are to remain in a living fellowship with Him, obeying His commands and loving one another with a pure, fervent love, always. This way, we shall avoid the error of things becoming cold and lifeless.

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to stay in the freshness of your life and love, seeking you daily and not just relying upon the things of the past.”

“I rejoiced greatly that I found your children walking in truth.” (v.4)

The thing that brought John real joy was when he heard that the spiritual children he was responsible for were ‘walking in the truth.’ Truth is not an abstract thing; it is something to be known and experienced. They did not only just know the truth; they were practicing and living it. Receiving and obeying commands from the Father is one of the seals that we are His children. One of the greatest commands is that we love another (v.5). This was something that John had laboured upon and was anxious that it should not be lost (v.8). To hear that they were living in the good of it, brought him great joy. There were others who did not live as they professed. John calls them deceivers and they did not belong to God. They and their pernicious words were not to be received, neither given any ‘house room’ in our lives. This will keep us and our teaching pure. This way, it shall be alive within us, even forever (v.2).

PRAYER :- “Lord, keep us in the simplicity of these wonderful truths.”

“I trust to some to you and speak face to face.” (v.12)

One of the problems that John faced was that of distance. He longed to be with his ‘children’ but length of travel, or other limitations prevented him. This is why he wrote to them. It was the way of expressing his love and care toward them. He had many things to write but they were best explained by face to face meetings. There is no substitute for seeing someone and talking face to face. It is the same with the Lord Himself. He has many things to say, which cannot be all covered in a letter. But, here His desire is expressed. He trusts to come to us and speak with His beloved children. It is a wonderful thing for Him to communicate to us, but how much more wonderful when He is there in Person. His Presence explains all and His Presence calms all. And, when He is really present with us, our joy is complete. Thankfully, with Him, there are no imposed restrictions. He is free to come at any time. Like little children eagerly awaiting the return of their father, let us also anticipate His Presence by His Spirit with great joy.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you not only speak to us, but long to be with us Yourself, so that mutual joy may be full.”

“Gaius … Diotrephes … Demetrius.” (vs. 1,9,12)

Another short letter, written by John, who was one who was in the truth to those who were also walking and living in the truth. Sadly, not all were doing so. There are three men mentioned. Gaius, probably one of the leaders, lived and walked in the truth. He was hospitable to all, which he did from a heart of love. For this, he was greatly respected and loved by others. He was a joy to have around. In sharp contrast, there was Diotrephes. He assumed leadership; not from love of the truth, but from a position of ambition. Like Satan, he would tolerate no rival. It is tragic when such men gain prominence in the church. That which is pure, loving and of true fellowship is destroyed under their influence. But, all is not lost, because there is another whose influence is good. Demetrius was a lover of truth and was well known as such. The truth of the gospel will always be opposed and contended. But, truth will prevail because there will also be those in whom truth dwells and they will be greatly loved. Let us aspire after the examples of Gaius and Demetrius.

PRAYER :- “Lord, even though there be opposition, thank You that you want your love and truth to be in us and to overcome.”

Thessalonians

Devotional

Jude