Jude

Harsh words for those who hang around "God's people" but only have their own agenda in mind! People described as "discontented grumblers, walking according to their own desires."  Do you know people like this? Are we people like this?

Unfortunately it seems that caring about others more than ourselves is a thing of the past! Most "christians" I know do whatever seems best for them. We spend our time, our money and our votes on the things that bring us the most personal satisfaction and gain. If we don't like something…we grumble and complain about it! We will seldom do what is inconvenient to us.

I wonder how many so called "christians" would be the audience of this book for Jude? Would he be pleased with our lives? Is this book for us or is it addressing someone else? Tough things to consider.

3Jn

Hospitality is a lost art in our culture, and unfortunately, also in our churches! When was the last time you invited a friend, much less a stranger, to have a random dinner at your home? 

John writes that hospitality is a sign of faithfulness, especially when we offer it to strangers! Can you remember the last time you were invited to a friends house for dinner? We have exchanged hospitality for "eating out". Our homes have become sanctuaries and not welcome centers. 

Recently, Pam and I invited a man and his daughter to our home for lunch. He specifically told his daughter, "this is a rare thing today and a true sign of christian hospitality." Although we thought the comment was a reach, it made me think of how rare this practice has become. 

The apostle John would not be commending the loss of hospitality (which literally means "lover of strangers"). In fact, I believe he would encourage us to "bring it back!"

Invite someone to your home for dinner…even someone you don't actually know! It is an act of faithfulness.

2Jn

Happy Thanksgiving! We have much to be thankful for today. 

To "believe" is the seeds of the gospel taking root in our lives. To continue to believe is the evidence that it did.

This short letter is both encouraging and challenging. John was greatly encouraged to hear that "some of his children were walking in the truth", and to those same people, he encouraged them to "remain in Christ's teaching". In fact, he urged them to do so.

Faith is a journey that last a lifetime. Choose Christ every single day. He is the One we should be most thankful for today.

1Jn5

Loving God and keeping His commands is a privilege not a burden. If "loving" God and "obeying" Him is a burden, we need to reconsider our faith.

I am not saying it is easy to obey, but I do believe John is saying that when faith is real, there is a sincere desire to do so. Obedience is the overflow of faith. Maturity is the overflow of obedience.

God has blessed us with His commands. We will be blessed as we obey them. This is His command: love one another.

1Jn4

Who is the "antichrist" and how can we recognize him? John makes it clear that "antichrist" is coming and has already come. He says, in fact, many of them have come. Anti-christ could be anyone or everyone! Many have participated in the "spirit of anti-christ".

John points out three questions to ask to determine if it is of anti-christ:

1. What does one say about Jesus? Anyone who says that Jesus is not God or anyone who diminishes the deity of Christ is of the Antichrist.
2. Is it popular thinking in "this world"? John points out that anytime the "world" accepts the teaching it is of Antichrist. Jesus clearly said that "the world" rejects His teaching. If it is highly accepted by all, it is likely not of Christ.
3. Is it new? I was once told that any "new" teaching is NOT "true" teaching. For centuries christians have been teaching, preaching, writing and studying the truth of scripture. There is nothing new under the sun. Any new teaching is false teaching.

These three questions will definitely guide us as we seek to follow Christ and appose everything that is anti-christ.

1Jn3

The apostle John was overwhelmed by God's love that enables us to be called, "sons of God". There is no gift that compares to it and there is no gift that has ever cost the giver more. We should feel loved and valued because of this great gift.

Today I am traveling home from Albania having spent over a week working with churches there. I got to celebrate with two different "Cornerstone" churches. The church in Shkodra celebrated its second anniversary and the church in Tirana its 20th. It was an incredible blessing to have the opportunity to celebrate with them both. (We could learn from them how to celebrate better.)

God is doing amazing things around the world with His children. My prayer is that all of us will get vitally involved with what He is doing. He gave us the amazing gift of salvation so that we could get vitally involved with His amazing work.

1Jn2

The "confidence" we have that we have "come to know Christ" is that we obey His commandments. The one who claims to know Jesus should actually act like Jesus! Imagine that.

Like James, John was confident that faith in Christ looks like something. It is one thing to say that we "know" Jesus, it is a completely different thing to actually obey His teaching and live like He matters. Many people claim to know Jesus, but very few people actually live like He is the most important thing.

If it was the "last days" over 2000 years ago, how much closer are we to the actual "last day"? Whatever our answer, today is another day closer to our last one. Will I live today as though I know and love Jesus or will I live today as a "lover of this world"? My desire is to  pursue the former.

Live for what matters today. What we live for is truly what we love.