The New Testament
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Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
March 18-23 2024
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(All)11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. …14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. …20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.(the Gospel of John 17: 11-23, NIV)
Confession
Jesus Christ, thank you that you knew the reality of the world and you pointed out a way and a practice how we can live in the world but out of the world. We confess that it is never easy. Help us ground ourselves in your word and be sanctified by your word. Give us the grace that we will walk in your truth with one accord. Amen.
Scripture reading:3 John
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
5-8 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth. but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. … spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
Thoughts to Share: Walking in the Truth in a Confusing World
The Third Letter of John is another short letter. It not only has the same urgency as shown in 2 John but also has a same theme as 2 John. But this time, Apostle John clearly named out the troubling person Diotrephes. He directly pointed out Diotrephes’ troubling acts: like to put himself first, does not acknowledge Apostle John’s authority, talking wicked nonsense against John and his team, not welcoming brothers and putting some people out of the church. Possibly, wherever Diotrephes went, he sowed confusion in Christ-followers and stirred up church division. Giving him a place to stay means inviting a possible threat to Christian communities in that area.
It appeared that Gaius was in a dilemma of making decision to accept whom into his house: Diotrephes, or Demetrius whom Apostle John plan to send. The controversy issue in his decision is how he would handle truth and love in his faith. Gaius had been faithful in providing hospitality for traveling brothers and strangers. He did so for God as a way of testifying the truth he believed. His loving acts received praises before the church.
Apostle John saw that this was a critical moment in Gaius’ decision. He must speak out to rescue God’s flock from a potential plunder of a false teacher. His pastoral guide to Gaius includes:
• Recognize the warning signs of false teachers in guise of travelers: see what they said and did.
• Practice 'love in truth'. Truth is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Be faithful to this Truth when you practice love. Love people with the love in that Truth - a kind of redeemed love. Love one another. When love interferes the Truth, put that Truth first.
• Walk in the truth and let love flow out of the truth.
• Imitate good. Do not imitate evil.
Apostle John surely remembered Jesus’ teaching about the real nature of the world in the last supper with him. Like Jesus, Apostle John is here to guide Gaius and later all believers to make a wise decision that ensures their walking in the truth and keeping the unity that Jesus Christ paid for them. In facing false teachers, walking in the truth means to obeying Jesus’ teachings and commandments. One’s ‘walking in the truth’ is one’s testimony of his/her love for God and for brothers and sisters.
In our world, Christ-followers are often expected to be Mr. / Mrs. Nice. Being 'nice' is defined as I am okay with everything and follow every way. Being nice is a good thing. But being nice can become problematic when it is at the expense of the truth concerning Jesus Christ, Son of God. For Christ-followers, we must know the only ultimate Truth - Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Prayer Suggestions
Jesus Christ, the Truth, thank you that you are our Truth. There is a safe love in your truth. Lead us not into temptation of false teachers and deliver us from the hands of false teachers. Thank you. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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