Upon Further Review; 3 John

Personal touch.  This letter was written by a person to a person.  (I heard a unison 'duh' from all you theologian types...)  John definitely had some straightening-out to do in this letter, but it was not terse or detached.  From the greeting to the closing, this letter drips with genuine Christian brotherhood;  love in truth.

This time through 3 John, that's what stuck with me most; the underlying themes of love and truth.  Love for God, love for each other, love for God's truth, and love for God's truth in each other.  He commends them for loving other Christians according to the truth of Scripture, and condemns those among them for not 'walking in the truth' the same way. 

Diotrephes did not walk in truth and love, but rather selfishness, dissension, false teaching, in-hospitality, and control.

Demetrius, on the other hand, is affirmed in his walk of truth and love by those around him, by John's fellowship, and by truth itself.

Just today, I caught myself NOT walking in love with my family, and definitely not living out the truth of Scripture. 

"Ethan, don't forget...."

Walk in truth (3 John 3)

Walk in love  (Eph 5:2)

Walk in new life (Rom 6:4)

Walk in humility (1 Pet 5:5-6)

Walk in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience (Col 3:12)

Walk in good works (Eph 2:10)

Walk in wisdom (Col 4:5)

Walk in light (1 John 1:7)

Walk in a manner worthy of Him (Col 1:10)

Walk in Him (Col 2:6, 1 John 2:6)

Another thing I am reminded of by this passage is that we need to keep out eyes out for wolves in the flock.  Wolves can be identified by their walk as well.  They walk in selfish ambition and a desire for power.  They walk in envy of those who have authority; often rebelling against the spiritual authorities over them.  They talk with wicked tongues; lying and slandering others in the body.  They are uber-protective of 'their turf' and their influence; not wanting outsiders to come in and mess it all up (or expose them).

Part of walking with God is loving what God loves.  Another side of it is hating what God hates.  John rejoices in the obedience and faithfulness of some of the brothers in the church.  But with righteous anger he exposes the work of the wolf, Diotrephes, and shines the light of truth on his behavior.  The truth comforts, and the truth confronts.  This takes courage.  But it must be done.


Lord, help us walk in Your love, and walk in Your truth. 

Upon Further Review; Jude

The first thing I re-noticed about Jude is the focus on ungodliness (used 6 times in the short letter, but described in great detail throughout).  One of the ironies that I experienced as I read through Jude a few times a few times in a row is how beautiful and poetic this scathing epistle is.  It condemns, rebukes, and judges ungoldly people and their behavior with the lilt and flow of an expert sonnet.  The 'triads' of Jude (that were discussed at length in the original study) enrich the argument with precision and beauty.  It just seems that the Lord used a very creative, poetic individual to pen this epistle.  It really is a work of art.

But aside from the aesthetic character of the epistle, the section that grabbed my heart was the last portion (titled 'Direction and Exhortation' in the original outline).  Especially verses 20-21;

Jude 20-21 (ESV)
20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

After hammering on the character and behavior of the ungodly, Jude offers direction for the believers.  We are to build each other up in faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep each other in the love of God, and wait for the mercy of Jesus.  Jude reminds us to go back to the basics; faith, prayer, the love of God, and hope.  Hang on these in times of trouble and persecution. 

I would love to dig into this passage more....maybe a sermon some day? 

I was greatly encouraged by this review through Jude, and I'm thankful to the Lord that He used it in my heart in a different way than the first time through.