Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "On Guard" Saturday, 29 November 2014 - Scripture: 2 John 1-2 My dear congregation, I, your pastor, love you in very truth. And I’m not alone—everyone who knows the Truth that has taken up permanent residence in us loves you.3 Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!
4-6 I can’t tell you how happy I am to learn that many members of your congregation are diligent in living out the Truth, exactly as commanded by the Father. But permit me a reminder, friends, and this is not a new commandment but simply a repetition of our original and basic charter: that we love each other. Love means following his commandments, and his unifying commandment is that you conduct your lives in love. This is the first thing you heard, and nothing has changed.
Don’t Walk Out on God
7 There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist!
8-9 And be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.
10-11 If anyone shows up who doesn’t hold to this teaching, don’t invite him in and give him the run of the place. That would just give him a platform to perpetuate his evil ways, making you his partner.
12-13 I have a lot more things to tell you, but I’d rather not use paper and ink. I hope to be there soon in person and have a heart-to-heart talk. That will be far more satisfying to both you and me. Everyone here in your sister congregation sends greetings.
"On Guard" by W. Talmadge Johnson
While I served as a General Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene, my wife and I had the delightful privilege of traveling Canada over a two-year period. In addition to growing in our love for the people of Canada, we became quite familiar with the natiional anthem, “O Canada,” which was often sung at the beginning of district assemblies. I especially recall the heartwarming lines, “We stand on guard for thee/God keep our land glorious and free!” It is a powerful statement of commitment that emphasizes the importance of watchfulness.
In John’s second epistle, he focuses on the imperative of loving God, keeping His commandments, and walking in love. He also warns his readers to watch out for deceivers masquerading as a type of Christ. In this brief epistle, John instructs us to practice zero tolerance for evil: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work” (vv. 10-11).
As Canadians proudly sing of guarding the nation they love, may we guard our hearts, minds, and souls that we “may be rewarded fully” (v. 8).
Hymn for Today:
"Jesus, My Strength, My Hope" by Charles Wesley
1. My God, my strength, my hope,
On Thee I cast my care,
With humble confidence look up,
And know Thou hear’st my prayer.
Give me on Thee to wait,
Till I can all things do;
On Thee, almighty to create,
Almighty to renew.
2. I want a sober mind,
A self-renouncing will,
That tramples down and casts behind
The baits of pleasing ill;
A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain,
The consecrated cross.
3. I want a godly fear,
A quick-discerning eye,
That looks to Thee when sin is near,
And bids the tempter fly;
A spirit still prepared,
And armed with jealous care,
Forever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.
4. I want a true regard,
A single, steady aim,
Unmoved by threatening or reward,
To Thee and Thy great name;
This blessing above all,
Always to pray, I want:
Out of the deep on Thee to call,
And never, never faint.
5. I rest upon Thy word;
The promise is for me;
My succor and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from Thee;
But let me still abide,
Nor from my hope remove,
Till Thou my patient spirit guide
Into Thy perfect love.
Thought for Today:
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."(Philippians 4:6-7).1. My God, my strength, my hope,
On Thee I cast my care,
With humble confidence look up,
And know Thou hear’st my prayer.
Give me on Thee to wait,
Till I can all things do;
On Thee, almighty to create,
Almighty to renew.
2. I want a sober mind,
A self-renouncing will,
That tramples down and casts behind
The baits of pleasing ill;
A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain,
The consecrated cross.
3. I want a godly fear,
A quick-discerning eye,
That looks to Thee when sin is near,
And bids the tempter fly;
A spirit still prepared,
And armed with jealous care,
Forever standing on its guard,
And watching unto prayer.
4. I want a true regard,
A single, steady aim,
Unmoved by threatening or reward,
To Thee and Thy great name;
This blessing above all,
Always to pray, I want:
Out of the deep on Thee to call,
And never, never faint.
5. I rest upon Thy word;
The promise is for me;
My succor and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from Thee;
But let me still abide,
Nor from my hope remove,
Till Thou my patient spirit guide
Into Thy perfect love.
Thought for Today:
Please Pray:
For the ministry of caring for widows and orphans in Mesoamerica.
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