Bearing One Another's Burdens
Treasure in Clay Jars
2 John 1-9 The Message
1-2 My
dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I’m not
alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence
in us loves you.
3 Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!4-6 I can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.
Don’t Walk Out on God
7 There
are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to
believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human
being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!
8-9 And
be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked
so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have
coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he
walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays
with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.10-11 If anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to this teaching, don’t invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.
12-13 I have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.
For Reflection
Those who speak in anger, those who advocate violence, those who endorse exclusion, those who's rhetoric is a call to arms, those who focus on retribution in the name of God deceive us.
In God's name they make us a willing partner with the anti-Christ. Be
wary of those who turn the truth away from love. Be cautious of those
who disguise the truth in the cloak of hate. God's will is reconciliation. God's will is peace. God's will is forgiveness, God's will is just.
Pray
for those who work for peace. Pray for those who encourage inclusion. Pray for those who suffer Grace.
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