2 John 1
1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever
3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us,
from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son,
in truth and love.
I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 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.
6 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.
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
Where would this road go?
Acts 1
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers
The Children of God gather together!!!
Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you.
A new earth and a new Heaven, The Son of God has given His Father.
your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5 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.
6 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.
Where would the road go - Very, Very Far.
Revelation 1
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."
And.... What does this mean to us today?
If we gathered honest opinions about the Scripture - we would see different people see various aspects of the Journey of Life. We all be drawn to a different ascpect of the Chapter. Scripture is alive to give us light to our Path.
Not all of us would hold our hand up to say we vote for this particular full Chapter. Is this Really What Jesus Would Do?
If we traveled to the time of Oliver Cromwell, we would find the Stockades would work nicely. Particularly - someone not embracing the correct Christian Party Line - an infidel who tried to have Ham on the decadent idea of Christmas Day. The Gospels would tell us those on fire for the Lord Jesus would have a parallel -
1 Timothy 3:1
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
With a Parallel in this:
1 Timothy 3:1
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
A newbie is going to be too intense about verse 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Where would Jesus have met the Antichrist?
for many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Jesus met these several times. His Brothers arrived to take Jesus home. His Brothers arrived to tell Jesus to flaunt himself at the Festival. The Brothers of Jesus denied His Ministry and Place with Father God. Jesus managed to not ruin the possibility of their salvation. Nor did Jesus fall into an SNL Chuch lady Upset.
Mercy
Peace
What other Parallel has the 2 John 1
Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
If Jesus had gone on home, shucks, with the folks when they wanted Him to come home from His ministry. Instead, Jesus believed He could walk the Plan and Path and Purpose of God and in Loving God - God would have the Love become a Circle. A nigh well impossible task. Jesus was demonstrating Loving God First, Jesus - Himself second - to not take the awful Brothers advice to display all His Rock On Powers at the Festival in a "Hey, I'm God waaaay." Jesus had to place His Brothers third - believing God would take them all through the Eye of the Needle to God's Own Salvation.
The Luke 14:22 Quote
is ~
a beloved quote of the horrors of the Righteous inflicted on the Comfortable.
And is profoundly discarded without seeing the value, Valor, of the Faith of Jesus in God, His Family, His Brothers - and Us!!! Jesus believed the Brothers (us) were building, journeying, to find God and His Love and His Son and Salvation - by the
Grace
Mercy
Peace
from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.
Truly the Prodigal Son was very much welcomed Home. However the pig slop, the wine, women and song were left behind.
8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes 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. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
AA has a saying
Love the person
Not the Sin
Who could we apply this to?
Jesus never went back to the Temple to Sing Jesus Christ Superstar. Jesus let His Temple have the multitudes gather to know Jesus is God - after Jesus' Name created many, many, many miracles in His Victory over Death. Jesus: The Evidence - Ian Wilson writes a Rabbi of Lyracantha 34 A.D. was in despair of the tremendous, unceasing, utterly amazing, never-seen-before, "He Healed Them ALL" Level of Miracles during the days after Jesus ascended to Heaven. The Rabbi felt a new Way, Truth Life would leave the Jews out of God's future.
Once again - Again, Jesus displays His Belief that given some Bible, some Holy Spirit, some Prayer, some Time, some Blessing of God - seed and sower - that mankind will find the world is God's Ability to save in Jesus Christ.
And that brings us to Wavy Gravy. Real Life. Today. Now.
We had the best weekend with two couples we've loved from Church for 20 years. One of the weekend guests has traveled a road of up-down all-over faith. Ministry Team Volunteer, Large Purpose Useful Church Volunteer, Agnostic. Believer. Bible Reader. Snotty Athiest. (Oops, I said snotty atheist. Oops.)
And all discovered the sheer joy of mercy. Discussions on the Political Tension in Israel due to Presidential Changes. Things people usually discuss mildly - not really. In fact, the hard-bitten atheist was a little teary over the mercy and sincere compliments and encouragement.
Sincere Mercy is a Slice of Heaven.
Recently, I was treated to breakfast. Where an Agnostic said, "How could God be So Rotten that a human being doing their sincere best would have to suffer Hell or Death." And this was repeated several times with Anger. And then a real quiver of sadness. The sadness was not intended to be displayed. And quickly met the emotional clean-up of the Red Alert Stiff Upper Lip. Anger is not so reachable. But the sadness of a God that "doesn't exist" to "exile" a "Child of God" is just - - - Heartbreaking.
There is only one answer. God only wants our Sincerity. And in the emotional disconnect of doubt - God would only reach out His Hand. Jesus continued to help the man who had a son and had doubt. Especially when the man cried out, "Help my disbelief!"
Jesus met with people who were traditionally not the included ones. The Syrian Phoenician Woman gave Jesus just respect. The Respect melted God's Vast Heart. Sincerity, Mercy - Love - Go far Far FAR.
Father God,
When Jesus prays with us, we have the results of His Love. We ask this Blessing.
Our cares, our loved ones, the people You give us - Covered by the Love and Name of Jesus. 'Holding this Nation and all believers of Jesus in God's Immeasurable Grace. Strengthening us in His Inexhaustible Mercy. And His Peace to go far, far, far trusting God to proved Abundant Life as we Love the Lord and work according to His Purpose.
Amen and Amen and Amen in Jesus.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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