seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[d] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.[e] 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
d. 1 John 2:15 Or world, the Father’s love
e. 1 John 2:20 Some manuscripts and you know all things
This is one of the last chapters I studied with my Bible Study group. I walked out when it became obvious that I could no longer stay. I actually stood up in the middle of a study.... told them their Christian Witness needed too much help and wiped my feet on the door mat on the way out.
Remember when the children were pepper sprayed at the border? I see no scenario where children would require pepper spray. Going to bed without supper... maybe.... a spanking.... maybe.... time out.... definitely.... but not pepper spray. Try it... take a little hot sauce and put it in your eyes... and tell me why a child should suffer through that?
One of the women in my Bible Study group was amazing. She was one of those people who was married to the right man... always had every hair in place... the hair style itself was always beautiful... her make up was always perfect... and that smile... so demure and convincing.... as she uttered.... "they didn't belong here and we didn't gas them.... this isn't Auschwitz".
The peacemaker in the group tried to stop me.... without ruffling feathers.... "it's not that bad... sit down" she said as she put her hand on the open Bible on the table and started to stand up. I was heading to the door when she realized there was no stopping me and sat back down. The rest, as I recall.... had their hands folded in their laps or on their Bibles in front of them.... and their mouths were gapping open in disbelief. It was dramatically sad.
A couple of the other ladies in the group were on the shuffleboard schedule. There were only a few games left in the season.... and I play so that hubby will have a partner [got pretty good there near the end]. Hubby knew there might be an issue.... but I really think he forgot all about it by the time we got to the shuffle board courts a few days later.... after all... he wasn't there... and I got over whatever was bothering me... or so he figured. Anyway... I dreaded seeing them that morning. They never smiled. They never mentioned it.... they were friendly but standoffish.
Every now and then.... the peacemaker and one other of them will comment on something on facebook. Most of them probably unfriended me. It's quite obvious we are from two sides of the same story. I'm pretty sure a few of them might have succumbed to COVID-19. They were "winter visitors". They have a home up in Idaho, North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin or Michigan or some snow covered spot like that.... and they have a home down south where they "visit for the winter".
Children are not inconsequential. We actually call them "the fruit of our loins". In yesterday's lesson I learned that it's important to teach children to love Jesus. I'd rather not hold the babies accountable for what their parents do. Those babies didn't "decide" to be there. Those babies didn't know they were, once again, inconvenient.
John told the Christians to act like Christ. That way... when we do see Him we can be proud of our lives and how they reflect His love. If God were to bring one of those children to witness at judgement.... what would they report? Christians.... especially Christian mothers.... should not abort babies or spray them with hot sauce because their parents don't march in step. Christians should be kind to everyone..... it's "the fruit of our lives". We have no business pepper spraying anyone..... let alone innocent children.
I have a pin in my jewelry box.... it says "WWJD". It's pretty... gold, of course.... and it's about 3"X2". I really don't celebrate Halloween... but when I had to do so because I was on a committee.... I wore it to let people know I was safe..... Just the average hypocrite.... that was my costume... the average hypocrite. Just like my friends who would pepper spray babies at the border for what their parents did..... I was at a Halloween party.... proudly displaying my WWJD while I was still marching in step with a church that taught hate......
John wants us to consider what Jesus would have done. He's our big brother.... our example. John told the church to be more Christ Like..... and less Hypocritical..... call off the hypocrisy.
