Verse of the Day - 3 John 1:14

Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name. 3 John 1:14 (NIV)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

[Be forewarned...what you are about to read is nothing short of sheer rambling... :-)]

First, let me say that I'm not a Bible scholar. I've not gone to seminary. I don't own a Greek Bible, nor would I know what to do with it, even if I did. But, I find it interesting that newer Bible translations [NLT, CEV, NCV] of 3 John 1:14 do not include these last few sentences at all. They simply end this short letter with John's comment that he has alot to say, but doesn't want to write it all, that he'll just tell Gaius when he sees him next. Hmm...

That led me to compare the three books of the apostle John that are grouped together toward the very end of the New Testament, and look at who he wrote to and how. I wanted to see if he was as personal in his farewell in his first two books, as the NIV and the KJV closes this third book, written to a close friend, Gaius.

The second book is written to a "chosen lady" and her children, and closes with him sending greetings from the children of her "chosen" sister in the Lord. Almost makes me think this was written in code. As you may or may not know, there was much persecution of the church during John's time, he himself being spared but exiled to the island of Patmos, where he later died. Perhaps this wasn't written to a specific person, but to a church body; perhaps written simply as a letter to an unnamed friend, so as not to target specific people to possible persecutors. Of course, this is purely speculation, since as I said, I'm not a Bible scholar (but I know a few who are, so I'm sure someone will clear things up). Then again, he didn't bother shading names in his third letter, so who knows...

John's first book is written in a very theological, doctrine-based style, not written to any one person at all, nor closing with any personal farewell. Full of truth about God and Jesus, about love and Christian authenticity. But not personal.

So, I come back to Book 3 and John's friendship with Gaius. (John doesn't write to specific churches, like Paul did, it seems). He mentions Gaius by name, and not only him, but mentions a leader in Gaius' church, Diotrephes, who wasn't displaying Christlike behavior to outside believers who had come to preach the Word, and kicking out of the church anyone who offered hospitality to these visiting believers. This man didn't even want anything to do with the apostle John or his associates. Gaius' church was a bit of a mess!

John's encouragement to his friend was perhaps just what Gaius needed to hear...to hear a friendly voice (even if it was on paper/scroll/whatever) that assured him that what he was doing was the right thing in the Lord, welcoming traveling believers in the Lord and providing for them as he could. Gaius had it right, even though he may have felt like an island in the process. And John was there in spirit to encourage his friend. That's what friends do.

John was a sensitive guy. He was called "the beloved" disciple and very close to Jesus. He was the only disciple who stood with Jesus' mother Mary and some other women at the cross, willing to be there for Jesus in all his agony, while the other disciples hid away. He talks a lot about love, not only in his gospel book, but his epistles. Love seems to be central with John. Although he can spout doctrine and truth with the best of them, it all seems to revolve around love. So it doesn't surprise me that relationships are important to John. He tells Gaius that his faraway friends greet him. And he says, "Oh, and tell my friends there, by name, that I said 'hi'." In essence, please tell Fred I said 'hi'...oh, and Jane, and Tom, and Lucy. Please let them know I'm thinking of them, and I can't wait to visit all you guys again!

In both his second and third letters, he tells his friends that he'd rather talk face to face than write his thoughts in a letter. See what I mean about being a sensitive guy? He's very relational, and not content with detachment. He wants to connect with his friends, live and in person. It means a lot to him to have personal contact with those he loves. (Perhaps his exile to Patmos was a greater torture than just being killed outright. For someone who loves people, isolation will kill them on the inside.)

Babies will die without human contact. Detachment is not an option for them. Neither should it be for adults. Please don't succumb to the isolated world of technology, where you don't talk face to face with folks, where people often don't have a real name, but just an address with a fictitious "screen name". Talk to your friends...say their name...go visit them in person. Let them know you love them and encourage them with a smile and a hug! It will help them, and you, feel like a human being, something we can sort of lose in this world of technological detachedness.

I hope you can feel free to love your friends, with joy and abandon. Jesus did, you know, and He's the best example we have of how to love. John was a good student of the great Teacher. Let's be good students, too.

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Revelation 21:1, 3

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them." ~ Revelation 21:1, 3 (NIV)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We like to talk a lot about what it will be like for us when we get to heaven, when all is accomplished that God's Word says will be accomplished, when there's no more pain or tears, when we are united with Christ...

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine...

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine...

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine...
~ Imagine, by Mercy Me

But do you ever wonder what it will be like for God...?

Think about what it will be like for God to finally be among His people, to be with them. No more long-distance relationships, with the Holy Spirit playing the cellphone, and Christ playing the defense lawyer. No more grieving over our pain and poor choices. He will hold our hands and look into our eyes! He will be in perfect union with His bride, the church. No more sin nature to get in the way of communication, no more evil one to draw us away into spiritual adultery. His bride is white and she is with the bridegroom...forever in communion. Do you think God looks forward to that day as much as we do? I bet He does!

Since Adam and Eve fought and lost the apple battle (kinda like the Alamo..."remember the Apple?"), God has been fighting for His people, for His children. What a fight it's been, huh?!? I think if God could get tired, He'd be tired right now. We say, How long, Oh Lord, before this is all over? I think He has emotions, too, that echo those longings. And yet, His course for this world is set, and time marches on to the beat of a Drummer who knows when the time is right, and doesn't want to leave even one soul out who will come. And so He waits...and we wait...the whole earth waits...

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. ~ Romans 8:19-24 (NLT)

Jesus gave us a window into his heart about his longing for that day, too...

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
~ John 14:1-3

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! ~ John 17:24

"...when everything is ready, I will come and get you..."

Jesus is busy preparing for that day...are we busy, too? Are we growing spiritually and developing increased faith, in preparation for the wedding feast? Are we sharing God's love and His message of salvation and hope, so that others can be there, sharing in the feast, too? Are we actively pursuing authentic worship in our heart and mind, for that future day of celebration with our Lord, that day which has no end?

What a glad day that will be for all of us, including God Himself! But before then, we need to get ready and be ready. May 2008 be a year of readiness!

Love,
Joelene