Psalm 20, 21, 23, 27
1 Kings 17:17-24
3 John 1:1-15
John 5:1-15
Just like churches today, the early church often had to deal
with conflict. The third letter of John addresses yet another early church
conflict. In 2 John, the writer suggested going against the Jewish tradition of
hospitality for those who were false teachers. In 3 John, he encourages the church
to take extra measures to equip the true teachers. The one is no more a
rejection of tradition than the other is an endorsement of it. The
recommendations come from recognition of legitimate versus damaging work in the
early days of the church.
In 2 John, the writer reminds the church of the commandment
to love and in 3 John carries that into doing good versus evil. In this
circumstance, evil is not necessarily some malicious act, but rather is
promotion of teaching that does not agree with teachings of the Lord. Such is the
challenge we often face today with so many leaders in the church insisting that
their way is the one right way.
The only right way is the way of the Lord as he set forth in
his teachings. We must study the fullness of his Word so that we stick only
with the truth. Let us not be misled by man’s interpretation, but be guided in
the Spirit. We have been given the gift of the Spirit, let us rely on it as we
go forth in love doing good works as directed by the Holy Spirit around us.
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