More on "Abiding in the Truth" (2 John 9-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 05-20-04

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Continuing on the theme of “abiding in the truth.”

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  2John 9-11

 

            Message of the verse:  “9  For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will not have fellowship with God. But if you continue in the teaching of Christ, you will have fellowship with both the Father and the Son.  10   If someone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite him into your house or encourage him in any way.  11  Anyone who encourages him becomes a partner in his evil work.”  (NLT) 

            “9  Whosoever goes forward and abides not in the doctrine of the Christ has not God. He that abides in the doctrine, *he* has both the Father and the Son.  10   If any one come to you and bring not this doctrine, do not receive him into the house, and greet him not;  11  for he who greets him partakes in his wicked works.”  (DBY)

            John is telling his readers, in verse nine, which no one is to add to the Word of God what is not already there.  The false teachers would teach things that are not from the Bible, things like Jesus Christ was not truly the Son of God, or that He is only One of many gods.  John writes that you must have fellowship with the Son in order to have fellowship with the Father. 

            In the next two verses John tells his readers that they are not to have any fellowship with the false teachers, nor are the to even let them into there house to be hospital to them.  During the time when this letter was written it was common to have traveling teachers and preachers stay at believer’s homes because the inns at that time were not safe for believers to stay in.  John even went so far as to imply that when a false teacher came to the door of a believer that they should not even say “good-by” to them for that meant “God be with you.”  The false teachers of then, and of today are very tricky, and believers need to stay in the Word so that they can know the Truth it teaches and not be fooled by false teachers.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have made it a practice since I have become a believer not to even let the false teachers into my house, but I do not remember if I have ever said “good-by” to them.  I will make it a practice not to say good-by to them from now on. 

            This will be taking out of contrast what has been said in verse nine, but it reminds me of not going ahead of God, but to wait patiently on Him, and this is something I have a hard time doing.

 

The Word of God was instructive to me along with challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Be patient and wait upon the Lord in the area of buying a car and also in the area of the trial of our investments.